Kurtley Beale has not played since March 1 © Getty Images

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Matches: Melbourne Rebels 33 - 39 Chiefs

Kurtley Beale has been cleared to return from exile via the bench in Melbourne Rebels' Super Rugby match against the Chiefs at AAMI Stadium on Friday night.

Beale, 24, was suspended indefinitely by the Rebels five weeks ago for punching two team-mates in South Africa. He returned to training this week after undergoing a counselling program to deal with alcohol-related issues, and he won selection in the match-day squad after making a heart-felt address to his team-mates.

"He presented to the playing group in a very candid and honest manner," Rebels coach Damien Hill said. "Knowing these players well, I know how much they want the club to succeed and they have welcomed him back. The club and Australian rugby have shown trust in the off field program Kurtley has been and will continue to go through. So long as that trust is returned, we will continue to support Kurtley."

Beale hasn't played since breaking a hand against New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby round three on March 1, and now he has just three matches to play his way back into the Wallabies' line-up to face the British &Irish Lions in June-July. Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says the 2011 John Eales Medal winner is no certainty for the Lions series, but he believes Beale has finally learned his lesson off the field.

"He's much better, the light's gone on so to speak for him," Deans said on Wednesday after speaking to Beale on Tuesday night, said. "That tends to happen so long as you're open to the learning, and I believe he genuinely is on this occasion. So he's much better for the processes he's gone through and continues to go through. He's got good support and we just hope that he can take some strides to ensure that he doesn't end up in a compromised position again."

Wallabies selectors will announce an initial 25-man squad to face the British & Irish Lions on May 19, leaving Beale just two Super Rugby games after the Chiefs fixture to press his claims for selection. A further six players will be added to the final squad on June 10. Deans stopped a long way short of guaranteeing Beale's spot in the Test line-up, but he said: "If Kurtley's fit and available and there's no hurdles to clear then he's selectable, but obviously he's got to return to the playing field. He's been training over the last month, he's worked very hard and he's in good shape.

"The critical thing is Kurtley in life, because he'll only be a rugby player for a certain amount of time and we want to see him thrive in life, first and foremost - that's far more important than whether he plays a Test match or not. That's where we're starting, we're dealing with that and if he deals with that he'll deal with the other easily, because what he does in-game he does naturally and instinctively, he loves it and that's not difficult for him."

Beale's inclusion for the Chiefs clash is the only change to the Rebels' line-up.

Rebels: Jason Woodward; Tom English, Mitch Inman, Rory Sidey, Cooper Vuna; James O`Connor, Nick Phipps; Scott Higginbotham (captain), Scott Fuglistaller, Jarrod Saffy; Cadeyrn Neville, Hugh Pyle; Laurie Weeks, Ged Robinson, Nic Henderson. Replacements: Shota Horie, Paul Alo-Emile, Luke Jones, Gareth Delve, Nick Stirzaker, Kurtley Beale, Lachlan Mitchell