Wallabies fullback Kurtley Beale will know on Tuesday whether he’ll play any further part in the Melbourne Rebels’ Super Rugby campaign.
Neither Beale nor fellow Test star James O’Connor were among the 25-player Rebels squad which flew to South Africa on Sunday following injuries in Friday’s 32-17 loss to the Queensland Reds.
O’Connor strained his hamstring at AAMI Park to be ruled out of the final two matches of the season while some mystery surrounds Beale’s fitness.
The fullback missed the Wallabies’ first three Tests of last month with a shoulder injury and ended the third Test win against Wales with a rib problem.
Melbourne officials have said Beale was in doubt for the African tour with “soreness” and will be reassessed on Tuesday after being having two days rest at home.
If both O’Connor and Beale are out, James Hilgendorf would likely regain the No.10 jersey against the Lions in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Captain Stirling Mortlock made the tour, which finishes against the Stormers at Newlands on July 14, after his troublesome calf muscle came through the loss to the Reds without further damage.
Rebels squad: Paul Alo-Emile, Rodney Blake, Al Campbell, Tom Chamberlain, Tim Davidson, Gareth Delve, Adam Freier, Mark Gerrard, Nic Henderson, James Hilgendorf, Julian Huxley, Mitch Inman, Lloyd Johansson, Luke Jones, Richard Kingi, Lachlan Mitchell, Stirling Mortlock, Cadeyrn Neville, Jono Owen, Hugh Perrett, Nick Phipps, Hugh Pyle, Ged Robinson, Nic Stirzaker, Cooper Vuna.