By Dave Woods BBC Sport

I'm in better physical shape now than when I was playing Martin Gleeson

Martin Gleeson has had four months to prepare for a crack at the Aussies - and he's not going to waste the opportunity to put a nightmare behind him.

The Warrington centre, caught up in the middle of a betting scandal at his former club St Helens, has served his time and paid his fine.

Now it's just a case of getting his career back on the road.

"I've done a lot in the last four months, but I've also spent a lot of time on my own," said the 24-year-old, rated as one of the best centres in the world before his ban.

"It's seemed like forever since I got banned. I had about six weeks when I went on holiday and chilled out, then I slowly got back into it."

It may have been tough for Gleeson to find the inspiration to return to training had it not been for a phone call from Brian Noble.

The Great Britain coach called him soon after he was handed his punishment to tell him he was still a part of his plans for the up-coming Gillette Tri-Nations Series.

This will be like my first game of the year after a pre-season build-up Martin Gleeson

"He dangled that carrot and I've built up training towards that," said Gleeson.

"I'm in better physical shape now than when I was playing. All I've been doing is running and loads of weights. I've put on a bit of size and strength.

"I had a behind closed doors game at Warrington and I felt alright in that, so hopefully I will be fine.

"This will be like my first game of the year after a pre-season build-up - and I was flying at the start of the year, so it shouldn't be any different."

So will there be a release of pent-up frustration when and if he takes to the field against the Aussies on Saturday night?

"There probably will be, but you can't let that take over in a Test match," he said.

"You could do something wrong and jeopardise the team."