Promising young Melbourne Rebels flanker Luke Jones could find himself switched to the second row to match the might of Wallabies duo James Horwill and Rob Simmons in their Super Rugby clash with Queensland on Saturday night.
Jones is a front-runner to replace Adam Byrnes, who was rubbed out for 10 weeks by SANZAR for eye-gouging NSW centre Tom Carter in the Waratahs’ 35-19 round-two win last Friday night.
The Rebels are appealing the verdict; on Monday awaiting documentation from SANZAR judicial officer Paul Tully detailing the reasons for his findings.
They have 48 hours to then lodge their appeal, with the Melbourne outfit reluctant to make any further comment until the outcome is known.
If unsuccessful, Byrnes will not be allowed to play any rugby until round 13 of the competition when the Rebels take on the Western Force on May 20 in Perth.
Regardless of the appeal, the Russian World Cup representative could miss facing the champions in Brisbane due to a shoulder injury.
Jones played at blindside flanker against NSW but could move to the second row with former league player Jarrod Saffy expected to be fit to face the unbeaten Reds.
The hard-working Saffy was a late withdrawal from a bench role against NSW with a quad twinge.
Jones, 20, has represented Australia at the junior world championships as a lock and would give the Rebels plenty of mobility there, playing alongside the impressive Hugh Pyle.
Jones was signed by the Force as a schoolboy and went on to play two Super games off the bench there before moving to Melbourne.
The Rebels could also call on the experience of battle-hardened lock Al Campbell, who came off the bench against the Tahs.
In some much-needed good news for the Rebels, Wallabies fullback Kurtley Beale is set to play against Queensland after missing their opening game due to his ongoing hamstring problems.
The Rebels desperately missed his attacking zeal against his old side NSW, only managing a penalty try in their points haul.
“He trained at full pace today,” said a Rebels spokesman on Monday.
Regular skipper Stirling Mortlock is still sidelined with his calf problem.
