2011 Lions debutant Ryan Lester has been dealt a blow with the news that he may be sidelined for up 6-12 weeks after suffering ligament damage in his right foot.

Lester returned to Brisbane following the Lions' Round 3 clash against Melbourne with some soreness in his right foot and was sent for precautionary scans.

Lions General Manager of Football Operations Dean Warren said that subsequent scans this week revealed a partial rupture of the Lisfranc ligament.

"The Club's medical team have decided to place Ryan's foot in a boot for a week before undergoing further scans and x-rays next week to confirm the full extent of the ligament damage," Warren said.

"The best case scenario is that Ryan has only partially ruptured the ligament and will need to take up to 6 weeks off to let it repair. However there is also the possibility that it will require surgery and if that is the case, Ryan could be out of action for the rest of the year."

Stay tuned to lions.com.au for further updates.