All Blacks first five Dan Carter has been named to start for Canterbury in Saturday's Air New Zealand Cup match against North Harbour in Albany.

Carter has not played a top-level game since injuring his Achilles while playing for Perpignan in France six months ago. It will be his first game for Canterbury since October 6, 2006, when he played against Wellington in an NPC quarter-final.

He played club rugby for Southbridge last week, scoring a try and kicking two conversions.

Also returning to the Canterbury line-up from long term injuries are winger James Patterson and hooker Ti'i Paulo. Both injured knees in last season's provincial competition and have not played a first class game since.

All Blacks prop Wyatt Crockett and flanker George Whitelock are both in the starting line up, as is Colin Slade, who will start at fullback after playing first five for the Junior All Blacks in Fiji recently.

The match kicks off at 5:30pm on Saturday.

Starting 15...Wyatt Crockett, Ti'i Paulo, Peter Borlase, Sam Whitelock, James Broadhurst, Michael Paterson, George Whitelock, Nasi Manu, Tyson Keats, Dan Carter, Sean Maitland, Ryan Crotty, Tim Bateman, James Patterson, Colin Slade.

Reserves...Will Catherwood, Andrew Olorenshaw, Luke Romano, Matt Todd, Willi Heinz, Stephen Brett, Adam Whitelock.