Wallabies halfback Will Genia is in serious doubt for the opening Test of the international season after bravely playing out the Super campaign with a knee injury.

Genia faces three weeks on the sidelines with a grade 1-2 medial ligament strain which puts him in a race to be fit for the June 5 clash with Fiji in Canberra.

The Australian captaincy contender injured his joint early in Queensland's 38-36 victory over the Highlanders but still managed to finish the match, and crucially save two tries in the process.

Genia is confident he will recover in time to take on the Fijians but said he would have pulled the same rein if he'd had his time again anyway.

"I'm the captain and it was the last game of the season and that's why I stayed out there," he said. "It's not as though I had reservations about playing for Australia - it was all about finishing the season.

"It was a painful injury and the strapping didn't really do too much.

"Physically, I'll be right (for Fiji). I'm disappointed (about the injury) but I'm very happy that it's not too long."

If he was unavailable, Genia's starting place would go to either the Waratahs Luke Burgess or Brumbies half Josh Valentine.

In worse news for Australian selectors, Genia's Queensland teammate Scott Higginbotham faces four to six weeks on the sidelines with a high ankle sprain.

The rugged blind-side flanker was likely to be in the mix for a back-row spot in the initial 40-man Wallabies squad but is now likely to undergo an arthroscope to determine the exact damage.

Higginbotham played every minute of the Reds' campaign until he came off before half-time against the Highlanders on Saturday night.

"That's bad timing for him unfortunately," said Reds coach Ewen McKenzie.

McKenzie said Queensland utility back Ben Lucas also faces a couple of months on the sidelines after suffering a partial tear of the patella just before halftime.

"All in all it was a pretty courageous effort for (Lucas) to go back on in the second half, and it was outstanding that Will Genia finished the game for us," he said.

"That points to great character and desire to help the team."

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