All Blacks back Luke McAlister will make his long-awaited Super 14 rugby comeback for the Blues off the bench against competition leaders the Bulls on Saturday night.

A calf injury and a blow to the nose in training has meant he has missed the Blues' six matches so far this season.

Coach Pat Lam said on Thursday that McAlister had good game time for the franchise's development side last week and for his club at the weekend.

"He's ready to go," Lam said.

"The most important thing is he feels confident and we feel confident to have him on the bench"

McAlister last played for the Blues three years ago before moving to English club Sale.

He returned to New Zealand last year, forcing his way back into the All Blacks.

Lam has made one enforced change to his starting 15.

Loosehead prop Charlie Faumuina comes in for All Black Tony Woodcock, who suffered a neck injury in the 39-32 loss to the Waratahs last Saturday night.

Lam said the latest news on Woodcock was better than the initial prognosis and the player could possibly be back next week.

Meanwhile, Lam believed one of the Bulls' major weapons, the driving maul, could be countered if the defence did their job as a unit.

"It's actually quite easy," he said.

"If you do it as a team, stay in the structure, it's definitely possible to stop. If you try to stop it in ones and twos, you've got no hope."

Being able to disrupt the Bulls' lineout ball was also be an advantage, but once the maul formed, "you have to put pressure on it and you have to work as a group to nullify it".

The team is: Isaia Toeava, Joe Rokocoko, Rene Ranger, Benson Stanley, Rudi Wulf, Stephen Brett, Alby Mathewson, Viliami Ma'afu, Serge Lilo, Jerome Kaino, Anthony Boric, Kurtis Haiu, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu (capt), Charlie Faumuina. Reserves: Tom McCartney, Tevita Mailau, Filo Paulo, Peter Saili, Chris Smylie, Luke McAlister, Paul Williams.

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