The Australian wheelchair rugby team's bid for gold in Athens has suffered a major blow after Games officials decided to change the disability rating of 15-year-old Ryley Batt.

During routine pre-games classification checks officials changed the double amputee from a 2.5 point rating to a more-mobile 3.5 point player.

The Australian Paralympic Team has appealed to the International Paralympic Committee but will have to wait until after all players are classified for a ruling.

Wheelchair rugby teams are allowed a total of eight points on the court at any time, so the decision throws Australia's combinations into disarray .

If the ruling stands, Batt - the youngest member of the Australian Paralympic team - will likely have much less court time than planned.

The Australian wheelchair rugby team, known as the Wheelabies, is ranked third in the world behind the United States and Canada.

The APC is also appealing to the IPC to create an extra spot for blind sprint cycling world champion Kieran Modra.

Modra was taken off the Paralympic team in August after another athlete appealed his selection on the grounds Modra's results with two different guides could not be combined.

Modra successfully appealed, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week upheld the original ruling and he was again off the team.

The APC is asking the IPC to increase the Australian team from 143 athletes to 144, arguing special circumstances.

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