Blues v Sharks: Teams

All Blacks lock Ali Williams will make his first appearance in this year's Super 14 when he returns to the Blues side to face the unbeaten Sharks at Eden Park on Saturday.

Williams has overcome a back injury which kept him sidelined for the opening three rounds, and he will replace fellow All Black Anthony Boric, who is out for at least three weeks with a fractured elbow.

Also out injured is fly-half Tasesa Lavea, who suffered a hamstring strain against the Stormers. His place is taken by Jimmy Gopperth, who was sent home early from South Africa to be fresh for the game against the Sharks.

Blues head coach Pat Lam said Williams' return would provide the team with a real boost ahead of their first home game.

"It's a big lift," said Lam.

"It's the same as when Jerome, Joe and Taniela came back (against the Stormers) last week and probably even more so with Anthony Boric now out with a fractured elbow.

"He has plenty of enthusiasm and he's really keen to get into it."

Sharks coach John Plumtree has made one injury-enforced change and one rotational swap for the trip to Auckland.

Keegan Daniel comes off the bench and onto the side of the scrum to fill the gap left by the injured Jean Deysel, who sustaining knee ligament damage in the match against the Chiefs.

The move opens the door for Skholiwe Ndlovu to earn his first cap for the Sharks at this level.

The other change sees Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira returning to the starting side, giving hard-working Deon Carstens a breather. Carstens will play off the bench.

Blues: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Paul Williams, 13 Anthony Tuitavake, 12 Jamie Helleur, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Chris Lowrey, 7 Onosa'i Auva'a, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (c),1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Jay Williams, 19 Josh Blackie, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Michael Hobbs, 22 Winston Stanley.

The Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Keegan Daniel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller (c), 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 John Smit, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Skholiwe Ndlovu, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Riaan Swanepoel, 22 Luzuko Vulindlu.