Sonny Bill Williams could play trial for Chiefs against Waratahs in Sydney ahead of 2015 Super Rugby season

SONNY Bill Williams could take his first steps back into Super Rugby in Sydney, with the Waratahs negotiating to play the Chiefs in a pre-­season trial.

HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - APRIL 28: Sonny Bill Williams of the Chiefs is tackled by Victor Vito of the Hurricanes during the round 10 Super Rugby match between the Chiefs and the Hurricanes at Waikato Stadium on April 28, 2012 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

SONNY Bill Williams could take his first steps back into Super Rugby in the familiar surrounds of Allianz Stadium, with the Waratahs negotiating to play the Chiefs in a pre-­season trial next year.

But if a Tahs clash with SBW and the powerful Kiwi side eventuates, it could mean the end of plans for NSW to play in a world club championship showdown against Toulon.

The 2015 Super Rugby draw was released on Thursday and, in a quirk of the competition, Aussie teams only play four of the five teams in the Kiwi and ­African conferences.

Super Rugby draw released for 2015

The Waratahs miss out on playing the Bulls away and the Chiefs at home. Williams will return to the New Zealand outfit next year after a two-season stint with the Roosters in the NRL.

It is a blow given that defending champions the Tahs playing against the Kiwi superstar would attract a massive gate, but NSW officials have still sought to tap into the pulling power of SBW by organising a February trial against the Chiefs.

“We are talking to them about playing a trial, yeah” Waratahs coach ­Michael Cheika said.

“It’s logical you try and play a team you’re not going to play in the season.”

Sonny Bill Williams will return to the Chiefs next year.

With the Waratahs beginning their season in a Sunday afternoon clash on February 15 against the Force at Allianz Stadium, pre-season preparation will be tight.

The likelihood of the Tahs flying to Nice or Monaco to play Heineken Cup champs Toulon appears to be dwindling.

“I don’t know about that French trip,” Cheika said.

“I’ve heard a lot about it but haven’t seen anything concrete yet, so we are negotiating with the Chiefs for a game here, and we’re looking at ­options for another game.

“We will probably only take the two practice matches this year, because of the short lead-in, and we’re estimating we’ll have a high number of Wallabies in the squad at the end of the year.

“What is imperative, we want to have hard games in our pre-season, with that run of away fixtures early. We have to get on the board early. We can’t afford to drop two or three away games and the pack get away from us.”

The Waratahs have a bye and three away games by round five and then have their second bye in round nine, meaning the defence of their title will require the longest stretch of continuous games for any team in the competition.

“If we want to get to the grand final we have to play 12 or 13 games in a row,” Cheika said.

“I think the focus is going to be around really big starts, and then of course, managing the middle section well, because this year, as opposed to past years, I think we are the team with the longest run of games.”

The Waratahs will play only two Sunday afternoon games but one will be against the Brumbies in round 6, and in a further change of tradition, the Reds will play at Allianz Stadium for the first time since 2007 in the last round.

The Tahs will play the Crusaders on May 23 at ANZ Stadium, and against the Rebels there on Anzac Day weekend.

Given it is a World Cup year, the Super Rugby season will not stop for June Test matches and the final will be held a month earlier on July 4.

“There’s some good fixtures. Our supporters have some nice home games to look forward to, and some good change around games. A few big games at ANZ and some big games at Allianz too,” Cheika said.