Williams talks to the media at a Counties media day © Twitter

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Sonny Bill Williams is feeling refreshed and motivated ahead of his return to rugby with Counties Manukau. The dual international is set to come off the bench in the Steelers' national provincial rugby clash with Auckland in Pukekohe on Wednesday night, just 12 days after his last appearance for the Sydney Roosters.

Williams, who joined the Steelers on Monday, says he's feeling in top shape despite a long NRL season.

"I'm really motivated to play some good footy," the 29-year-old said. "It's a new time in my life and there are different goals that I've set and that brings a lot of excitement. I'm feeling refreshed and ready to go."

Williams' rugby comeback follows two seasons with the Roosters, which included a premiership title. He expected to have a more instinctive feel for the 15-man game this time around than when he first switched from league six years ago.

"Probably the most pleasing part is it feels a bit more like second nature," he said. What will also help is that many of the Steelers' plays are similar to those of the Chiefs, with whom he won the 2012 Super Rugby title. "It will take me a while, a lot of hard work, but I'm confident I will get the feel back," he said.

A 19-Test All Black, Williams has signed with the Chiefs for the next two seasons as he targets the 2015 World Cup and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics sevens.

His previous ITM Cup experience was with Canterbury, and in joining Counties Manukau he is reunited with coach Tana Umaga. He played under Umaga after he quit NRL club Canterbury-Bankstown for French rugby side Toulon in 2008.

While All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has said he wants the second five-eighth on the end-of-year Northern Hemisphere tour, Williams isn't looking that far ahead.

"I haven't thought about that to be honest," he said. "It's just step by step. I'm at Counties at the moment. If you start thinking all those kinds of things, nothing really falls into place. My job now is to earn my stripes here and earn the boys' respect."