Melbourne Rebels forward Scott Higginbotham to stay in control against former team Queensland Reds Scott Higginbotham in action for the Rebels against the Waratahs last Friday night. ABRASIVE Rebels forward Scott Higginbotham insists he will be able to restrain himself from taking any baits from his old Reds pack mates trying to niggle him into a yellow card. Harsh recent consequences have left their mark on the high-impact forward, who is aiming to be part of the first Rebels outfit to upset the Reds in Melbourne on Friday night. "I learnt my lesson sitting in the sin-bin for 10 minutes in the first game of the season," Higginbotham said yesterday of being yellow carded for a punch against Western Force. There was no positive at all for the team, so I'm pretty aware of staying away from all of that and being the right sort of leader. Higginbotham has spent his early months at the Rebels sharpening instincts to run off playmaker Kurtley Beale. He will have to adjust quickly, with Beale undergoing surgery today to repair a fractured metacarpal bone in his left hand which will sideline him for up to a month. It is a major, perhaps insurmountable, blow for the Rebels, who have led both ACT Brumbies and NSW Waratahs at halftime, with Beale on song, before faltering to two losses. Reds coaching boss Ewen McKenzie is certain the Rebels will swing James O'Connor into No.10 and move Richard Kingi to fullback, rather than punt on rookie flyhalf Gus Roberts. ``It's disappointing for Kurtley and good for us, but that's the way this competition is - how you cover injuries is the key," McKenzie said. McKenzie is well aware of the threat posed by Higginbotham. He's pretty dynamic but we are not playing Scott Higginbotham. We are playing the Rebels, who are an improving side with lots of challenges," McKenzie said. Higginbotham said he'd come to terms with playing against Reds teammates he'd battled beside for five years and won a 2011 title with. "When I signed last year for the Rebels I knew this day was inevitable," Higginbotham said. Look, I'm excited, but what I've come to realise is that it's just another game of footy. You are almost always playing against mates, some lifelong friends, in any Australian derby. Beale was injured when he collided with bullocking NSW forwards Benn Robinson and Wycliff Palu last Friday night in Sydney. ``I think somebody stepped on it and I landed on it," Beale said.``I'm hoping surgery goes well. I'll be able to run and kick during the rehab so I hope to be back sooner than later. Beale said his troublesome left shoulder was improving, but conceded a reconstruction is being considered. ``The shoulder pulled up really well but if it does pop out a couple of times again, there is a process put in place by the ARU (Australian Rugby Union) and the Melbourne Rebels that would be considered," Beale said.