It's a far cry from a hallowed ground like Twickenham but the location isn't important to Melbourne Super Rugby hooker Adam Freier.

The tough Wallaby rake will play his first game on Saturday since surgery in October on his back, which has troubled him for the past two years.

Freier knocked back the opportunity to play for Sydney club Randwick in favour of a run with the Melbourne Unicorns, who will play a Victorian state selection match on a suburban Melbourne ground.

"I could have played in Sydney but decided to put back into Victorian rugby," the 30-year-old said.

"I think the last match I played there was 50,000 at Homebush and I dare say there won't be that many at Northern Oval."

Freier played 99 Super matches for NSW and 25 Test caps before his recruitment by the Rebels, although he only managed 30 minutes of game time last season due to the injury.

He hopes the trial match will be a springboard back into the Melbourne line-up for their round six Super match against the Hurricanes.

With the Rebels' injury toll mounting, his comeback couldn't come at a better time.

"There will be a few people watching and they'll make the call about next week," said Freier, who still has World Cup ambitions.

"It's been baby steps and this is one that's hopefully going to lead into next week.

"I'm really sick of watching rugby in a suit."

Freier said his time on the sidelines had been frustrating but he'd enjoyed watching the devotion of Melbourne fans to their new side.

"To sit there when they were chanting `Rebels' after the loss to the Sharks was a very strange feeling.

"I was actually smiling after a loss, not that I was happy with losing."

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