Former NRL star Sonny Bill Williams will make his long-awaited debut for New Zealand provincial championship side Canterbury on Friday.

The former Bulldogs backrower is named on the reserve bench for the national provincial championship encounter with Bay of Plenty, which will be his first competitive game in New Zealand since returning from French side Toulon.

Two All Blacks forwards - prop Owen Franks and lock Sam Whitelock - have also been named to start.

However, they'll struggle to steal the limelight from Williams, who has battled injury since arriving in Christchurch to begin his pursuit of an All Blacks jersey.

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