Wallaby halfback and Reds captain Will Genia is in serious doubt for the opening Test of the international season after he played through the final game of the Super 14 season with a knee injury.
Genia is facing three weeks on the sideline with a grade 1-2 medial ligament strain which has the halfback in doubt for the Wallabies clash with Fiji in Canberra on June the 5th.
The Reds captain injured his joint early in the Reds' 38-36 victory over the Highlanders but still managed to finish the match, and crucially saved two tries in the process.
Genia is remaining confident that he will recover in time to face the Fijians but said that if he had the chance to do it again he would.
"I'm the captain and it was the last game of the season and that's why I stayed out there," he said.
"It's not as though I had reservations about playing for Australia - it was all about finishing the season.
"It was a painful injury and the strapping didn't really do too much." he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"Physically, I'll be right (for Fiji). I'm disappointed (about the injury) but I'm very happy that it's not too long."
If Genia does not regain fitness in time to face the Fijian his starting place would go to either the Waratahs Luke Burgess or Brumbies half Josh Valentine.
There was however worse news for Australian selectors as Genia's Reds teammate Scott Higginbotham faces four to six weeks on the sidelines with a high ankle sprain.
He was likely to be in the mix for a back-row spot in the initial 40-man Wallabies squad but is now likely to undergo an arthroscope to determine the exact damage.
Higginbotham played every minute of the Reds' campaign until he came off before half-time against the Highlanders on Saturday night.
"That's bad timing for him unfortunately," said Reds coach Ewen McKenzie.
In addition McKenzie said utility back Ben Lucas also faces a couple of months on the sidelines after suffering a partial tear of the patella just before halftime.
"All in all it was a pretty courageous effort for (Lucas) to go back on in the second half, and it was outstanding that Will Genia finished the game for us," he said.
"That points to great character and desire to help the team."
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