Sonny Bill Williams will be able to play in the opening two matches of the Rugby Championship Tests, the All Blacks have confirmed.

Williams, who leaves to begin a contract with Japanese club Panasonic next month, was a notable absentee from All Blacks training in Auckland last Friday.

There was some doubt Williams would be available to fill a gap in the All Blacks’ backline exposed by an injury to centre Conrad Smith.

On Monday, the New Zealand Rugby Union in a statement said the necessary arrangements had been made with Panasonic and Williams’ agent Khoder Nasser to make him available for the back-to-back games against Australia.

The first match is on Saturday.

“It’s what we expected, but we knew it was going to take a bit of time, and we are now all looking forward to preparing for Saturday’s challenge,” coach Steve Hansen said.