Rebels to challenge Fiji at St Patrick's College tonight

FIJI is expected to represent a considerable step up in class for the Melbourne Rebels, despite the absence of the Pacific Island’s European-based players.The Rebels will front tonight’s trial match at St Patrick’s College on the back of two big pre-season wins over Tonga.Their two outings so far have received cautious pass marks from head coach Rod Macqueen and his squad, who are not getting ahead of themselves despite an aggregate 97-13 (43-13 at Olympic Park, 54-0 at Morwell) scoreline.Tonight’s clash will be the third of four trials, with only the powerful Crusaders left to face before Super Rugby is welcomed to Victoria.With a population of less than a million people and a registered player base of less than 40,000, Fiji is considered the strongest tier-two rugby nation in world rugby. At the 2007 World Cup, they stunned Wales 38-34 and were level with South Africa 20-20 after 60 minutes of their quarter-final. Only two late Springbok tries gave the eventual champions a flattering 37-20 win.On their end-of-year tour last year, Fiji again caused heartbreak for Wales, holding them to a 16-16 draw in their Millennium Stadium fortress.After facing the Rebels, Fiji travels to play the Waratahs, before taking on academy teams from the Brumbies, Crusaders, Chiefs and Blues on an extensive tour in preparation for the Pacific Nations Cup and the 2011 Rugby World Cup.For the Rebels, though, tonight will be another opportunity to build on the core aspects of the team’s structure and game plan in a match-play scenario. Macqueen has cautioned throughout the pre-season that development would take time, stressing that all other teams have had 15 years to build their systems and culture. The former foundation coach of the Brumbies also said that it was quite different to prepare a new team now, as opposed to 1996.“Back then, everyone had to become professional overnight. But the game now has been professional for 15 years,” he said.Macqueen will use this trial to finalise his starting 15, and ensure that key combinations are exposed to match-day intensity. There should also be two big (literally and figuratively) backline players making their debuts.Former Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock will make his first appearance for the Rebels, while league convert Luke Rooney is also a good chance to figure. English flanker Michael Lipman is also expected to pack down for his first Rebels match of the pre-season.Julian Huxley, however, will not take the field, as he finishes his recuperation from lingering groin soreness.Tonight’s match starts at 6pm.