Melbourne Rebels threw up more questions than answers in their final Super Rugby trial with a last-gasp 25-24 win over the Highlanders.

Melbourne trailed until late in the second half but stormed home with two late tries scored by veteran centre Mitch Inman and former Red Dom Shipperley.

It meant they finished the pre-season unbeaten after last week accounting for Queensland.

“I thought we started the first half really well and we had really good control in what we were doing in attack and defence breakdown was solid,” said coach Tony McGahan.

“We had a bit of a lull there for about 10 minutes and then came home really strongly.”

The performance gave coach McGahan a few headaches – but ones that he’d like to have with a number of players pushing for selection to face the Crusaders in their season opener against the Crusaders next Friday night in Christchurch.

“Last week the players were terrific with how they played and then we played a side that was in the finals last year in the Highlanders,” he said.

“Two solid performances and all the players are putting their hands up and we’ve got a pretty full deck to choose from.”

The Rebels’ first try of the match was scored by another former Queenslander Jonah Placid, with the 19-year-old winger reaping the rewards of a pin-point cut-out pass from fullback Bryce Hegarty.

While Hegarty, who was Melbourne’s playmaker last year, played at the back, another former Red Mike Harris proved a handy addition at 10.

McGahan said he was undecided who would start there in round one. The second row is one area that the Rebels also have riches with former Waratah Lopeti Timani challenging Cadeyrn Neville and Luke Jones.

Jones impressed in the match played at a local Melbourne club ground, showing his Test experiences on the Wallabies spring tour had stoked the fires. Another newly-capped Wallaby flanker Sean McMahon also had a busy match.

Melbourne led 13-8 at halftime with the Highlanders getting on the board through winger Patrick Osborne, while five-eighth Lima Sopoaga added a penalty.

The Highlanders lead got out to 11 points after a try by Trent Renata but they couldn’t hold back the locals’ late flourish.