Dan Carter has been named to start in Canterbury's first match of the Air NZ Cup rugby competition against North Harbour at Albany on Saturday.

The All Blacks five-eighth has not played a top-level game since injuring his Achilles while playing for French club Perpignan six months ago.

In a major boost for the All Blacks ahead of their Tri Nations clash with the Springboks in Durban on Saturday, Carter will play his first game for Canterbury since October 6, 2006, when he played against Wellington in an NPC quarter-final.

He played a full match for Southbridge against Hornby in the Ellesmere sub union club competition last Saturday, scoring a try and kicking two conversions in his team's 34-13 victory.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP