Melbourne's injury concerns for their tough Super Rugby tour to South Africa have eased with playmaker James Hilgendorf and key back Mark Gerrard both chances to travel.

Hilgendorf looked no hope of being on the plane to the republic on Tuesday after he suffered high ankle syndesmosis when he was turned inside out while planting the ball down for the Rebels' first try in their 33-18 loss to Queensland at AAMI Park on Friday night.

He was carried from the field in obvious pain.

Veteran back Gerrard only managed six minutes into the second half before he limped off with a calf injury.

Melbourne face the Bulls in Pretoria next weekend, followed by the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

With English import Danny Cipriani no certainty to tour after he was sidelined as a disciplinary measure after breaching a team agreement not to go out late after their recent loss to NSW, the playmaking stocks were looking precariously thin.

However Gerrard was at the club at 7am on Saturday to continue his rehabilitation while Hilgendorf looked like he had finally had some well-deserved luck.

The unfortunate five-eighth was only in his fourth match back after suffering a serious shoulder injury in Melbourne's opening game.

"We're optimistic both players will be available," a club spokesman said on Saturday.

"They've both pulled up really well so we'll see how they go in the next day or so."

Melbourne plan to name a squad on Sunday.

Their defeat by the table-topping Reds was their fourth in succession, but a drastic improvement on their 50-point hiding at the hands of Queensland in round five.

"I hope it's an indication the team's continuing to improve, that's our goal this year," coach Rod Macqueen said.

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