Three out in injury blow for Wallabies ahead of Lions series Injuries force Wallabies coach Robbie Deans to make three changes to his preliminary squad for the Lions Tour. Rebels captain Scott Higginbotham and coach Damien Hill address the media after their disappointing loss to the Reds in Brisbane. Scott Higginbotham, left, is one of three injured players forced out of the Wallabies squad ahead of the Lions series. THE Wallabies have suffered a major setback with three injured players - back-rower Scott Higginbotham, second-rower Sitaleki Timani and winger Digby Ioane - forced out of the initial 25-man squad for the British and Irish Lions series. The trio has been replaced by halfback Nick Phipps, second rower Kane Douglas and back-rower Ben McCalman. They will assemble in Sydney today with the rest of the squad for a three-week camp to prepare for the first Test in Brisbane on June 22. Higginbotham dislocated his shoulder in the Melbourne Rebels' 33-20 loss to the Queensland Reds in Brisbane last night, while Timani injured his thumb in the NSW Waratahs' loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday night. Ioane, who was not expected to play in the first Test anyway, has dropped out because he was unable to train following recent knee surgery. The loss of Timani means Queensland Reds second rower Rob Simmons will almost certainly start in the second row alongside James Horwill, while Dave Dennis and Ben Mowen will compete for the blindside flanker position. With Ioane out of action, Israel Folau and Joe Tomane are likely to start on the wings. Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will add a further six players to the squad on June 11. Interestingly, Phipps' call-up means the Rebels are now free to play former Wallabies halfback Luke Burgess against the Brumbies in their Super Rugby game in Canberra this week. Burgess, who has signed with the Rebels for the next three years, has returned to Australia following a stint with French club Toulouse. Higginbotham said he still hopes to play against the tourists. "Hopefully I will be able to push on and be available for selection for the Lions," Higginbotham said after the Rebels' loss. The doctor told me if I don't need surgery, I am playing. I will have some scans, a bit of rehab and get back into it.