Rugby:Australia will go into their Tri-Nations opener against South Africa buoyed by the return of scrumhalf Will Genia, lock Nathan Sharpe and prop Benn Robinson, who have all shaken off injuries and will start Saturday's test.
Genia has recovered from a fractured hand picked up in last month's one-point loss to England in Sydney and he returns at the expense of Luke Burgess in the team named by coach Robbie Deans today.
Western Force second rower Sharpe rejoins the Wallabies pack after a back injury ruled him out of Australia's last outing, a 22-15 victory over Ireland.
"It's really good to have a few of the troops back who have been unavailable to us," Deans ahead of Saturday's match (9am Irish time) against the defending Tri-Nations champions in Brisbane.
The Wallabies also brought back first-choice prop Robinson and switched Adam Ashley-Cooper to fullback to allow James O'Connor to move out to the right wing.
Queensland Reds hooker Saia Faingaa remains in the starting lineup as regular Stephen Moore is named on the replacements bench as he works his way back to full fitness after a two-month absence with a broken jaw.
"Benn has had a little bit more background than Stephen, in terms of having been able to get underway a little bit earlier after his injury, which is why he's ready to start while we are easing Stephen back in off the bench," Deans said.
Saturday's match is Australia's first of this year's tournament and they will look to take advantage of a road-weary South African side who suffered back-to-back defeats in New Zealand.
"The imagery from those games has left our players in no doubt as to the magnitude of the task ahead," Deans said.
"Although the Springboks improved significantly in the time between the tests in Auckland and Wellington, they'll know that they have to lift again and will be determined to do so."
There are nine changes to the Australia 22 who handed the Springboks a 21-6 defeat in Brisbane last year but Deans does not believe retaining a bulk of that side will have any significance on Saturday's outcome.
"It will be about the here and now, as it always is," the New Zealander said.
"The players who were involved on our side from that occasion can take confidence from that experience but it won't be worth any points for us on the scoreboard once this game starts."
Meanwhile scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar and flanker Ryan Kankowsi were among four changes in South Africa's starting line-up for Saturday’s game.
Pienaar will start behind the pack in favour of Ricky Januarie, who was dropped from the 22 and Kankowski comes in for Francois Louw in the backrow.
Winger Gio Aplon replaces the suspended Jean de Villiers, while prop BJ Botha comes in for CJ van der Linde, who has been demoted to the bench.
Teams
Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O'Connor, Rob Horne, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (captain), Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Salesi Ma'afu, Saia Faingaa, Benn Robinson.
Replacements: Stephen Moore, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Matt Hodgson, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale.
South Africa:Zane Kirchner, Gio Aplon, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Ruan Pienaar; Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, BJ Botha, John Smit (captain), Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, CJ van der Linde, Flip van der Merwe, Dewald Potgieter, Francois Hougaard, Butch James, Juan de Jongh.