New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter to return from six-month sabbatical in Canterbury provincial match for Southbridge

Carter played for the club side when he returned from an Achilles injury in 2009 and expects to play around 40 minutes against Glenmark on Saturday

Dan Carter is to return from his six-month sabbatical this Saturday in a New Zealand provincial match (Getty Images)

All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter will make his comeback to rugby after six months in a minor club match in rural Canterbury province on Saturday.

Carter will play for the Southbridge club, where he began his career, in a local championships match against Glenmark. The 32-year-old, who was allowed a "sabbatical" as part of his contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union, said he does not expect to play a full 80 minutes.

He said he will "just ease my way back into it on what will more than likely be a heavy, wet track. I am probably only looking at 40 minutes or so, but it will just be good to get some game time."

Carter played for Southbridge in 2009 when he returned from an Achilles tendon injury.

AP