The Melbourne Rebels’ halfback crisis is worse than first feared with skipper Nic Stirzaker sidelined for up to six weeks and Mick Snowden for at least seven months.

Stirzaker has been diagnosed with a syndesmosis injury after he was initially diagnosed with some floating bone fragment in his ankle.

His back-up Snowden suffered a Lisfranc fracture during last round’s heavy Super Rugby loss to the Kings in Port Elizabeth and could be out for up to nine months.

Melbourne host the top-ranked South African side the Lions on Saturday afternoon with Ben Meehan likely to wear the No.9 jersey.

The Rebels have recalled halfback Harrison Goddard from the Australian under-20 team.

Meehan also has some injury niggles with the Rebels set to search the local Melbourne competition or Sydney Shute Shield for a back-up if he’s also ruled out.