Six months after his World Cup dream was shattered by a torn adductor muscle, All Blacks five-eighth Dan Carter is poised to return to rugby for the Crusaders.

Carter will be eased back from the bench against the Cheetahs in the new Christchurch Stadium on Saturday night.

Youngster Tom Taylor will make his run-on debut at five-eighth in place of Tyler Bleyendaal, and coach Todd Blackadder says the plan is to give Carter the last 30 to 35 minutes.

Carter’s last appearance was in the World Cup pool match against France on September 24 before he ruptured his left groin muscle in a freak accident when kicking goals at the end of training.

“I’ve experienced a lot of things in my life and this is right up there in terms of excitement for a couple of reasons,” Carter said of returning to action.

“The first one is that I’m coming back from an injury which was pretty devastating so the chance to play again is very exciting.

“Secondly, there’s no better way than doing it in front of our home people and in a new stadium.”

Taylor will be entrusted with the goal-kicking as Carter has resumed kicking only in the past fortnight after a long lay-off during which he got married and travelled through South America and the United States on his honeymoon.

Carter said he started kicking lightly and had slowly built up power.

“It’s still a work in progress, but I’m happy with my development,” he said.

“I’d rather be out playing and being able to kick, but I haven’t been able to do that in the time frame. That will come in the next couple of weeks.”

The Crusaders, who had a bye last week, have made four changes to the starting 15 from the loss to the Chiefs in Napier in the previous round.

Taylor and Ryan Crotty, who has recovered from a hamstring strain, form a new inside pairing.

The youngest of the four Whitelock brothers, Luke, also gets his first run-on appearance, replacing eldest brother, George, who has an achilles niggle, on the blindside flank.

At lock, Sam Whitelock comes in for Tom Donnelly.