Melbourne Rebels will go into their crunch Super Rugby match against the NSW Waratahs at full strength after Wallabies halfback Will Genia was cleared to play.

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Genia was knocked out during last weekend’s 52-7 thrashing of the Sunwolves but passed the concussion protocol to take his place in the AAMI Park match on Friday night.

“I got a good feeling from Will because he passed his HIA (head injury assessment) straight after the game which is always a good sign,” Rebels coach Dave Wessels said on Wednesday.

World Cup hopefuls, backrowers Isi Naisarani and Luke Jones, have also been recalled after missing the trip to Tokyo.

“It wasn’t an easy decision as I thought the guys who played last week played really well,” Wessels said.

“Our short turnaround from Japan meant we made a fair few changes in the pack.”

Wessels praised the input off the bench of hooker Jordan Uelese in his first game this season due to a knee injury, but felt loyalty to Anaru Rangi and Hugh Roach, who have hardly put a foot wrong.

With just three game to play before finals, Melbourne are looking to stay in touch with Super Rugby conference leaders, the Brumbies, while the NSW Waratahs’ season is on the line as they are eight points off the pace.

The last time the teams met in round 10 the Rebels blew a big lead to fall to a 23-20 defeat but the coach said his team had improved a lot since then.

He said spirits were high in the camp following their record 52-7 win over the Sunwolves, while his players were physically in great shape.

“I feel like the last couple of weeks there’s been a lot of growth in the group,” he said.

“We learnt some hard lessons in that Waratahs game … one thing we’ve improved on a lot is how to control moments in the game when things don’t go your way and not letting one bad moment become two.”

The Rebels take on the Waratahs on Friday May 31 at AAMI Park, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS, Kayo and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.

TEAM

Rebels to face Waratahs

1. Tetera Faulkner

2. Anaru Rangi

3. Jermaine Ainsley

4. Matt Philip

5. Adam Coleman

6. Luke Jones

7. Richard Hardwick

8. Isi Naisarani

9. Will Genia

10. Quade Cooper

11. Marika Koroibete

12. Matt To’omua

13. Reece Hodge

14. Jack Maddocks

15. Dane Haylett-Petty

Reserves

16. Hugh Roach

17. Matt Gibbon

18. Sam Talakai

19. Ross Haylett-Petty

20. Angus Cottrell

21. Michael Ruru

22. Billy Meakes

23. Tom English