Andrew Ready has learnt his lesson and is ready to make up for lost time after falling victim to his own hype, Queensland Reds coach Nick Stiles says.
Tipped for a Wallabies breakthrough following a breakout 2016 campaign, Ready has been named for his first start in nearly two months in Friday's Super Rugby clash against the Blues in Samoa.
The 23-year-old hooker, who went on Australia's European tour last year as a development player, was banished to club rugby after the Reds' hollow round six defeat to the Hurricanes and has barely been seen since.
Stiles publicly blasted him and halfback Nick Frisby for their performance and then slammed them for a lack of professionalism after it emerged they both went out drinking that night.
Stiles said Ready drifted away from the things that saw him touted as a future Wallaby in the first place.
"I think in this day and age of social media, it doesn't take much to read your own press," Stiles told AAP.
"I was very happy with Andrew last year but in reality, a lot people probably got caught up a bit too much.
"People were thinking more of his set-piece success than what he was doing around the field.
"He's gone through setbacks with the embarrassment of being dropped from the 23, being sent back to club rugby, being made to really have a look at how he handles his preparation and his performances to go with it.
"I'm definitely more confident of where he is now than where he was eight weeks ago."
Ready's opportunity comes after the Reds decided to leave Wallabies skipper Stephen Moore at home to prepare for next month's Tests against Fiji, Scotland and Italy.
It is one of multiple changes made by Stiles as he seeks a response from his side following their meek capitulation at home to the Western Force last week, which ended their finals chances.
Former Australian schoolboys star Caleb Timu has been named on the bench and is finally set for his debut, having overcome the ACL injury he sustained shortly after switching to the Reds from the Brisbane Broncos' under-20s program last year.
The Blues have left out Sonny Bill Williams to give him more time to recover from a knee issue ahead of the British and Irish Lions' tour of New Zealand.
The match, to be played in Apia, is the first ever Super Rugby clash held in Samoa.
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