Highlander Malakai Fekitoa will line up at centre tonight refreshed and looking forward to the game against the Blues.
It is a form of All Black trial with George Moala and Rieko Ioane in the Blues midfield coming up against Fekitoa and Richard Buckman. Williams is expected to come on some time in the second half.
Fekitoa, who turns 25 next week, said it is great for the big midfielder to get back on the field but he is not worried about it.
"I only just found out in the last couple of days and the fans are obviously excited to see him out there . . . he is a great athlete and amazing in what he does but as players we stick to the same plan we had at the start of the week," he said.
"They all have different strengths and with Sonny coming in, he is very skilful, with all those offloads. Ioane is an exciting young player but our strength is as a team and every week we come up with a plan and hopefully we execute it well."
Fekitoa admitted he got overexcited at the start of the season and went away from the reason he was playing the game.
"I have just been trying hard to enjoy every week. You never know when it is going to end. I just want to go out there and have a laugh. Have a smile on your face and get out and play.
"I tried too hard at the start. I wanted to have that perfect game from the first game and obviously it did not happen. That is what I have been talking to Tony [head coach Tony Brown] and the rest of the management helping me out a little bit and getting out there and relaxing."
Defence was about trusting your mates, and the Highlanders had that in spades.
Buckman was an under-rated footballer and Fekitoa sung his praises.
"The thing I admire about him is he is very tough and competitive and doesn’t give up."
Fekitoa said he has nothing to report about signing a new contract with the franchise.
His deal comes to an end after this season with the Highlanders keen to keep the 23-test All Black.
But Fekitoa said he was concentrating on playing at the moment, and any deal would come later.