Rebels suffer Super injury blow

Mike Harris and Colby Fainga'a will miss the Melbourne Rebels' Super Rugby clash with the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld this weekend through injury.

The key pair will return to Melbourne after suffering injuries in the Rebels' 25-19 victory over the Western Force in the opening round last Saturday.

Five-eighth Harris left the field midway through the first half after suffering a quad strain during the warm up while scans on Monday revealed Fainga'a sustained an elbow strain after coming on as a substitute early in the second half.

The flanker was one of the Rebels' best in the impressive win.

South African-born Japanese international Kotaro Matsushima, along with Culum Retallick and Paul Asquith, will travel to Johannesburg to join the squad for Sunday's (AEDT) match.

The Bulls were first round losers to the Stormers.

Melbourne are already without skipper halfback Nic Stirzaker, who is recovering from a shoulder problem but there was some good news for the Rebels with five-eighth Jack Debreczeni over the illness that sidelined him for the Force match.