Under-fire fullback Kurtley Beale will start the third Test against Wales in Sydney on Saturday.

Beale was charged with common assault at the weekend following an alleged altercation in Brisbane and has been recently sidelined with a shoulder injury. But with Cooper Vuna dropped by Robbie Deans, he has opted to fast-track Beale back into the starting XV and he is adamant that he can handle the expectation.

Deans said: "It has been frustrating for Kurtley, and he's obviously had some off-field challenges to deal with as well, but it was important for all concerned that he had full confidence in his shoulder before we looked at re-introducing him to the Test arena."

Beale's inclusion sees Adam Ashley-Cooper move to the right wing while Sitaleki Timani starts at lock in place of Rob Simmons. Last weekend's hero Mike Harris has dropped out of the 22 as Deans names five forwards and two backs on the bench.

While the James Bevan Trophy is already safely in the Wallabies' keeping, Deans is expecting another tough challenge from the Six Nations champions in Sydney. "Wales are a very good side. They give you nothing and they take their scoring chances. They showed that in the Six Nations, and they showed it again last weekend," Deans said. "Both games in the series to date have been very close, there's no reason to suggest that Saturday afternoon will be any different.

"If anything, they will be even more dangerous because the circumstance will unshackle them. While they can no longer win the series, they can still achieve something only one other Welsh team has ever achieved by winning in Australia.

"And they have that opportunity in front of them with no real downside - nothing to fear so to speak, as the series is beyond them."

The Wallabies have also received a boost ahead of the Rugby Championship with Nathan Sharpe announcing that he will play on.

"Obviously it's a big decision for Sharpie because it was a conscious choice of his to communicate that he was going to retire, intending to retire," Deans said. "He'd made plans around his life beyond the game so he's had to put them on hold and that's never straightforward."

Australia: Kurtley Beale; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane; Berrick Barnes, Will Genia; Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota Nau, Sekope Kepu, Sitaleki Timani, Nathan Sharpe, Scott Higginbotham, David Pocock (captain), Wycliff Palu

Replacements: Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, Rob Simmons, Dave Dennis, Michael Hooper, Nic White, Anthony Fainga'a