Melbourne Rebels to rebound for Lions tour game

THE Melbourne Rebels hope to regain their lost momentum against a very formidable foe: The touring British and Irish Lions.

Rebels v Brumbies

THE prospect of a once-in-a-lifetime encounter against the British and Irish Lions should provide ample motivation for the Melbourne Rebels after a brow-beating loss to the Brumbies.

Weeks of building good momentum were seemingly undone in Friday's 38-17 loss in Canberra on Friday in which the Rebels were outmuscled, out-kicked and out-enthused.

Coach Damien Hill conceded the 11 forced changes to his team, including the game-day withdrawal of fly-half Bryce Hegarty, didn't help the cause.

But he said the Rebels players, while downcast after the game, wouldn't let the loss evaporate their thirst for the next contest, a meeting with the touring Test stars on June 25.

``It's going to be a huge game,'' Hill said. ''A lot of our younger guys, it will be the highlight of their football careers to date.

``You have the best players in the northern hemisphere coming up against us, and two areas we didn't do well against the Brumbies, contact and kicking, are going to be so important against a pretty exceptional team.

``The boys will definitely be up for it. We went through a review and they are already taking about playing the Lions and what that means to the club and that's where their heads are at now.

``Everyone is very excited about it.''

The Rebels didn't suffer any more injuries in Canberra and could get back experienced duo Jarrod Saffy and Huge Pyle for the Lions game, while Bryce Hegarty will be over his virus by then.

Hill said he was likely to start young halves Nic Stirzaker and Hegarty against the Lions, despite an impressive showing off the bench from former Waratahs and Wallabies halfback Luke Burgess.

Burgess could also enter the frame for a Wallabies return after would-be Aussie No.9 Nick Smith, who captained the Brumbies on Friday, badly injured his shoulder.