Former Wallabies scrum half Luke Burgess set to start against British and Irish Lions

FORMER Wallabies half-back Luke Burgess will start his first game for the Melbourne Rebels against the British and Irish Lions on Tuesday night.

Burgess to roar into Rebels action

FORMER Wallabies half-back Luke Burgess will start his first game for the Melbourne Rebels in a semi-international fixture when they clash with the British and Irish Lions at AAMI Park on Tuesday night.

Burgess has played just 45 minutes for his new club since returning from France and, having already trained with the national team this month, could be thrust back in to Wallabies contention with a good showing against a strong Lions outfit.

Eight of the tourists who suited up for Saturday's Test win in Brisbane will run out again on Tuesday night with English lock Geoff Parling to captain the Lions.

Former Wallabies winger Cooper Vuna will return for the Rebels from the bench, while back row duo Jarrod Saffy and Hugh Pyle have recovered from injury and will take their places for Melbourne.

All at the Rebels are treating the match as their Grand Final and Pyle said given even a slight chance of recovering in time, there was no way he would miss the game.

"The surgeon gave me two options, and the second was only a small chance I would be right for the Lions. I thought I would give it a go and I am on track," Pyle said.

"The Lions game is a once in a lifetime opportunity and could be the biggest game I get to play in my career.

"It's something I have wanted to do for the last couple of years and if I had the opportunity I wanted to do everything I could to get back for it."

Pyle said the clash was a significant one for everyone at the Rebels.

"We've got a lot of young guys who are new to Super Rugby, and a few older guys for whom it could be their last go around. It's a massive opportunity not a lot of people get to have," he said.

"You don't want to walk away with regrets, because you might not get another chance.

"It's something we have been looking at all year."

TEAMS -

Rebels: Nic Henderson, Ged Robinson, Laurie Weeks, Cadeyrn Neville, Hugh Pyle, Jarrod Saffy, Scott Fuglistaller, Gareth Delve (c), Luke Burgess, Bryce Hegarty, Lachlan Mitchell, Rory Sidey, Mitch Inman, Tom English, Jason Woodward, Pat Laefa, Cruze Ah Nau, Paul Alo-Emile, Luke Jones, Jordy Reid, Nic Stirzaker, Angus Roberts, Cooper Vuna

Lions: Rob Kearney, Sean Maitland, Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt, Simon Zebo, Owen Farrell, Conor Murray, Ryan Grant, Richard Hibbard, Dan Cole, Richie Gray, Geoff Parling, Dan Lydiate, Sean O'Brien, Toby Faletau, Rory Best, Makovina Vunipola, Matt Stevens, Ian Evans, Justin Tipuric, Ben Youngs, Billy Twelvetrees, Stuart Hogg