Sonny Bill Williams says he's pumped up for a big performance against Super Rugby's table-topping Queensland Reds on Sunday.

He's relishing the thought of getting back to a former stomping ground - Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium - with fellow ex-NRL star turned All Black Brad Thorn before a big crowd.

Centre Williams was named on Thursday to return to the star-studded Crusaders' line-up for the blockbuster clash after missing last weekend's 25-19 win over the Chiefs with a knee injury.

"I love playing at Suncorp back in my NRL days and am keen to get out there," said Williams.

"It will be cool to play alongside big Brad Thorn on his old stamping ground. He's been talking it up and is ready for a big one and I want to get out and have a big one too.

"They're talking over 40,000 (spectators) already so it will be an awesome atmosphere.

"I love playing in the big games, but you're only as good as your last performance so I want to go out on the big stage and show again that I can play rugby."

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder welcomed the return of Williams who has been a revelation with his power running and off-loads in his debut Super Rugby season.

"He has brought a bit of enthusiasm back. He trained really well today and is refreshed and excited," Blackadder said.

"He certainly wants to be involved in this game and that's great for us."

Williams replaces Ryan Crotty in one of three changes to the Crusaders starting 15 from the win against the Chiefs.

Lock Thorn, who played the second half of that game after Chris Jack suffered an eye injury, has recovered from a calf strain and Owen Franks replaces his brother Ben at tighthead prop.

Having lost their last three matches against the Reds, two of them pre-season games, the Crusaders have a healthy respect for the Queenslanders, who beat them 41-20 in Brisbane last year.

"They really cleaned us up last year and played really well," said Blackadder.

"Possibly what we did is that we over-committed at the breakdown. We weren't releasing the tackler so we got penalised off the park by Craig Joubert.

"But we're a lot wiser this year. We probably under-estimated them last year when they proved to be a far better side than what everybody had thought and they've continued with that really good form this year and are playing good rugby.

"We're looking at testing them in areas where they possibly haven't been tested so it's a good challenge for us.

"We've got some subtle things we will bring to the game which we feel will make a difference."

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