Melbourne Rebels lock Hugh Pyle may never know how close he came to recognising a rugby dream with a Test against the touring British and Irish Lions.

On the back of a starring season with the resurgent Rebels, Pyle was heavily tipped to be a bolter for the Wallabies squad, particularly after NSW lock Sitaleki Timani was ruled out with a broken thumb.

But Pyle’s shoulder injury he sustained against the Reds in their Super Rugby clash on Saturday, a day before Timani’s replacement was announced, meant Waratah Kane Douglas got the nod.

“They’ve got Kane in there now who’s been with the Wallabies before and is a very good player,” 24-year-old Pyle said.

“I felt it was a missed opportunity; it’s a once in a career opportunity to represent your country and play the Lions.

“I hadn’t heard a lot indicating that I would get that opportunity but to have it nipped in the bud like this is fairly disappointing.”

Pyle went down in the 18th minute after tackling Queensland halfback Will Genia.

He tried to play on only to realise that he couldn’t lift his arm to pack a scrum and his shoulder was dislocated.

His skipper Scott Higginbotham then suffered the same injury in the second half, derailing the Rebels who were leading 20-13 before falling to a 33-20 loss.

Wallaby Higginbotham will undergo further scans this week but could sit out the entire Lions series.

“The funny thing about that is he bought the same jumper as me last week so I think he’s just copying me,” Pyle joked.

“It’s devastating for him, he’s been in fantastic form and looking to light up against the Lions in that first Test so it’s a real shame for him.”

Pyle is hoping an arthroscope this week allows him to return for the Rebels’ match against the Lions on June 25 at AAMI Park.

If that doesn’t work out he’s aiming for their final Super Rugby game, against the Highlanders at home on July 12.

Melbourne face the Australian conference-leading Brumbies on Friday night at Canberra.