Dan Carter back in Canterbury line-up

Peter Meecham

RED AND BLACK: Dan Carter has been confirmed to start for Canterbury in the Air NZ Cup against North Harbour

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The Dan Carter show rolls on, with the comeback All Black confirmed to start at first five for Canterbury in Saturday night's Air NZ Cup opener against North Harbour in Albany.

That, following his 80-minute club outing for Southbridge last weekend, puts the 59-test All Black firmly on track to a return to international rugby in the latter stages of the Tri-Nations competition, should his services be required.

At this stage both All Blacks coach Graham Henry and Carter himself are running a million miles from talk of him making a mid-competition return, but be sure it will be on both of their radars.

Carter has repeatedly said his focus is only on turning out for Canterbury in the Air NZ Cup, with the end-of-season tour his primary goal at test level. But he appears to be well ahead of schedule with his recovery.

And Henry has issued terse ''don't go there'' responses to questions of an early Carter callup for the Tri-Nations, either for the Sydney visit on August 22 or, more likely, for September's closing home clashes against the Boks and Wallabies.

Carter had a scratchy sort of start to his first club appearance since 2002 last Saturday, missing his first four shots at goal, but eventually settled into his game and played a leading role in Southbridge's 34-13 victory over Hornby in the Ellesmere sub-union competition. He even finished the match with a 40m scamper for a try and a dropped goal conversion.

The 27-year-old record-breaking All Black hadn't played any competitive rugby since rupturing his Achilles tendon while playing for Perpignan in France's Top 14 competition back in February.

After undergoing surgery to repair the shattered tendon he commenced a long rehab period that has only just come to a successful conclusion.

Carter said it had been a "long road" back to full fitness but last weekend pronounced himself more than happy with his first stretch-out in a game situation.

"It was good to be back playing some rugby," he told reporters in Christchurch.

"I played within myself a little bit but got through it OK which is then main thing."

This week against Harbour represents a major step up in level and intensity, though Canterbury coach Rob Penney is confident his classy five-eighth is ready for the challenge.

It will be Carter's first game for Canterbury since October 6, 2006, when he ran out against Wellington in an NPC quarterfinal.

But it shapes as an ideal sort of hitout, with Penney selecting a strong lineup which includes recent All Blacks Wyatt Crockett and George Whitelock, who will captain the side.

Carter's selection leaves Canterbury's two other promising five-eighths having to fill other roles. Colin Slade moves to fullback and Stephen Brett will provide bench cover.

Carter will have a useful backline outside him, with Crusaders duo Ryan Crotty and Tim Bateman in midfield, Slade at the back and top young prospects Sean Maitland and James Paterson on the wings (with Adam Whitelock confined to a bench role for this match).

Paterson and hooker Ti'i Paulo are also both returning after long-term injuries. Both injured knees in last season's Air New Zealand Cup and have not played a first-class game since.

Paterson hurt his knee in Canterbury's semi-final victory over Hawkes Bay at AMI Stadium on October 18 and Paulo injured his a week earlier in the quarter-final win over Tasman.

Five Canterbury rookies will take a spot on the bench – hooker Will Catherwood, prop Andrew Olorenshaw, lock Luke Romano, flanker Matt Todd and halfback Willi Heinz.

CANTERBURY: 15 Colin Slade, 14 James Paterson, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Tyson Keats; 8 Nasi Manu, 7 George Whitelock (capt), 6 Michael Paterson, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Peter Borlase, 2 Ti'i Paulo, 1 Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: 16 Will Catherwood, 17 Andrew Olorenshaw, 18 Luka Romano, 19 Matt Todd, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Stephen Brett, 22 Adam Whitelock.

- © Fairfax NZ News