Lions props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones are out of the final test against South Africa after undergoing surgery, and the team could also be without backs Brian O'Driscoll, Jamie Roberts, Tommy Bowe and Ronan O'Gara.
All six players were injured during Saturday's bruising 28-25 loss to the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld, a defeat which gave the world champions an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series.
Jenkins and Jones went off within minutes of each other early in the second half and their loss meant the rest of the game continued with uncontested scrums because the Lions only had one prop, Andrew Sheridan, as a replacement.
The Lions had already called up props Ian Payne and John Hayes and both are likely to come into the 22-man team for next Saturday's game at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
O'Driscoll went off with concussion, Roberts has a wrist injury, Bowe an elbow problem and O'Gara a deep cut near his left eye. The Lions said their conditions would be monitored during the week.
Lions head coach Ian McGeechan said his team had the character to bounce back and win the third test despite the injury setbacks and the disappointment of losing Saturday's game to Morne Steyn's last-minute, 53-meter penalty.
"There's a lot of character in this group," McGeechan told BBC Radio on Sunday.
"People asked me the same question last week and I think they got their answer. It will be the same again.
"They're an incredible group of young men. Whatever happens with injuries, we'll be ready to win the third test."
