Wallabies halfback Will Genia has been named in the Melbourne Rebels' Brisbane Tens squad, but he is not certain to play.
Genia is the only high-profile Rebel in the 25-man squad, with coach Dave Wessels opting to give his wider squad a run in the preseason tournament.
The scrumhalf has been named with an asterisk alongside his name among the group to head to Brisbane next week, after failing to train on Friday having pulled up sore from earlier sessions.
Wessels has put more weight on the team's full-blown Super Rugby trials, having fielded a host of Wallabies against the Brumbies in Queanbeyan on Friday night, and another XVs trial against the Waratahs on February 15 to come.
"The Brisbane Global Rugby Tens is an important part of our preparations ahead of the 2018 Super Rugby season as the tournament will give us the chance to continue our preparations on and off the field,” Wessels said.
“We’ve blended experience and youth in a squad that’s been selected specifically for Tens rugby so the tournament will be a valuable opportunity to continue to build on our combinations and test ourselves in a competitive environment.”
Outside of Genia, the only player with Test experience among the squad is the Rebels wildcard, former Wallabies hooker Adam Freier.
Freier was a foundation Rebels player and though he retired in 2012, featured in the NRC last year for the NSW Country Eagles and still plays Shute Shield for Randwick.
A number of non-contracted players will feature in the Rebels squad, with former Aussie Sevens player Sam Figg and Warringah backrower Sam Ward named in the squad as well.
The Rebels have also named their women's team for the Tens, their first outing at the tournament, a squad that has plenty of international flavour.
Melbourne's women will be captained by Jayne Kareroa, who played for the Cook Islands in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
Coach Alana Thomas said the women's competition would give them a taste of the upcoming Super W competition.
“It’s great to be invited to participate in the women’s competition at the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens,” Thomas said.
“The tournament will give us a good opportunity to get some game time and benchmark ourselves against the rest of the competition ahead of the inaugural Super W season.”
SQUADS
Rebels men's squad for the Brisbane Tens
Jock Armstrong
Duncan Chubb
Jack Debreczeni
Colby Fainga’a
Sam Figg
Adam Freier
Will Genia*
Harrison Goddard
Esei Ha’angana
David Horwitz
Trevor Hosea
Henry Hutchison
Latu Latunipulu
Sama Malolo
Tom Moloney
Hunter Paisami
Rowan Perry
Kitione Ratu
Dom Shipperley
Alex Toolis
Andrew Tuala
Sione Tuipulotu
Ikapote Tupai
Semisi Tupou
Mahe Vailanu
Sam Ward
*Subject to fitness
Melbourne Rebels women's squad for Brisbane Tens
Jayne Kareroa (Capt)
Georgia Cormick
Jocelyn Davis
Sharlene Fagalilo
Kate Gribble
Casey Homewood
Samantha Homewood
Janita Kareta
Elle McIntosh
Anna Milne
Racheal Pike
Tulia Pula
Meretiana Robinson
Ta Tapou
Alice Tonumaivao
Maria Va’auli
Rebecca Walker
Mikaela Welti
