Five-eighth Kurtley Beale will be given a licence to thrill in his return to the Wallabies' starting side for their Rugby Championship test with South Africa in Pretoria.

Beale has regained the confidence of his teammates and coach Robbie Deans, who is backing his new No.10 to help steer Australia to their first win at Springbok stronghold Loftus Versfeld.

The 23-year-old has proven himself since his disappointing performance in their opening Championship clash with New Zealand and has shed weight and re-gained his speed.

He will be integral to Australia's gameplan to open up the match from the kick-off.

"Obviously he had an outing that no-one enjoyed in Sydney but he's such capable player he's never going to be down for long and he's really worked hard," Deans said.

"I'd never have any doubt about picking Kurtley anywhere.

"In terms of playing 10 it's not an issue, he's such an instinctive player.

"One of the challenges for him will be when to play and when not to because he's a bloke who does hang on to the ball, flatten up the line and take the game to the opposition instinctively very well and does it easily."

Beale helped the Wallabies create history in 2010 with a penalty strike at the death for a thrilling 41-39 victory which was their first on the high veldt in 47 years, proving he can handle the pressure of the volatile climate playing in South Africa.

While the team will be confirmed later on Thursday Berrick Barnes will remain at fullback as the Wallabies look to extend their five-Test winning streak over the South Africans.

Barnes said Beale starting the match in the place of injured five-eighth Quade Cooper rather than coming off the bench will give him a chance to establish some early rhythm in his game.

"He'll have a bit of a licence to have a crack out there because him touching the ball more is only going to help us as a side," Barnes said of his teammate.

Beale will renew his Melbourne Rebels halves partnership with Nick Phipps, who will have his second start with Will Genia sidelined through injury.

The pair, who were rivals back in school-boy rugby days, sparked the attack when they linked in the Rebels and Phipps was excited to have his Super Rugby teammate alongside again.

"Having KB there is great and the boys have faith in him," Phipps said.

"He's got this really exciting way of playing and you can always hear his voice, he's got this piercing tone, and he always wants to go at the line and go hard.

"He's one of those blokes who will leave it all out on the field."

- AAP