Sonny Bill Williams has undergone minor knee surgery © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Sonny Bill Williams

Tournaments/Tours: ITM Cup

Teams: Canterbury | New Zealand

All Blacks hopeful Sonny Bill Williams has undergone minor knee surgery prior to joining the Canterbury ITM Cup squad.

The procedure was recommended to the former Toulon midfielder in order to clear up cartilage damage and prevent future problems. He underwent successful surgery in Brisbane on Thursday, a day after winning his second pro boxing match with a first-round knockout.

Canterbury kick off their season against Hawke's Bay at AMI Stadium on July 30 but coach Rob Penney is unsure as to when Williams will be in contention.

"His integration back into playing is something we've got to consider, obviously, and what avenue that takes will be discussed over the next few weeks," he said. "We were aware he needed an operation after his boxing bout and now that's done and all is okay we'll box on.

"They're saying two to three weeks - by this Thursday he would have had a week so who knows how soon he can be back? It's just one of those things and you deal with it all the time. We're always having players injured as it's just the nature of the game so it's not so much disappointing as one of those things to deal with.

"With him [Williams] not being able to play as major part as we were thinking about in terms of the pre-season fixtures, it does add another level to the challenges that are there."

Penney is also yet to make a decision on where the 24-year-old will play, hinting that he may be employed on the wing as well as in his familiar No.12 jersey.

"We've got some ideas as everyone knows around midfield and probably a bit wider as well so there's some opportunities there and as they come along it will be up to him to make the most of them because we've got a pretty talented group and they won't want to be relinquishing their spots in the team," he said. "It's going to create some lovely selection headaches as the season unfolds, I hope."