Buckman (27), nicknamed the Barracuda, will start at fullback for the Highlanders in their match against the Crusaders.
The last official game Buckman played for the Highlanders was one to remember when he was part of the side which won the final in 2015.
He dislocated his shoulder in the first pre-season game at the start of last year and was not sighted for the Highlanders after that.
He went to Japan and played with the Panasonic club during the Japanese season and came back to Dunedin last month.
With captain Ben Smith still out, Buckman slots in at fullback and is preferred ahead of the likes of Matt Faddes and Jason Emery.
Highlanders coach Tony Brown had no hesitation in picking Buckman to start.
"He had a solid season in Japan so he is rugby fit. We wanted to give him a bit of a break. So he will be chomping at the bit, showing us he is ready to get out there," he said.
"He’s ... a tough rugby player. He is going to be really competitive and make the right decision at the right time. Sometimes he is a little bit uncanny but his ability to make the right decision at the right time is going to add a lot of solidity there."
Buckman starred for the Highlanders on the wing in 2014 and then moved into the midfield in 2015. He is wise footballer but there could be doubts over whether he will be match fit and last 80 minutes.
Brown said Smith had not turned up to training yet and would have this week off.
Whether he makes a return against the Blues on March 11 will be decided by how well he gets through the concussion testing next week.
In other changes to the team, Elliot Dixon comes on to the blindside flank for Gareth Evans who moves to the reserves and prop Siosuia Halanukonuka comes in at tighthead prop in place of Siate Tokolahi, who does likewise. Lock Joe Wheeler, who also spent the off-season in Japan, winning the title with Suntory, has been named in the reserves.
The competition was hot for places and that was good for the side, Brown said.
Flanker Shane Christie was sighted on the training paddock this week but it is no clearer when he will be back while lock Josh Dickson picked up a knee injury playing last week and is out for from four to six weeks.
The Crusaders have picked Mitch Hunt to replace the injured Richie Mo’unga at first five-eighth.
Israel Dagg moves to the right wing and Seta Tamanivalu is on the left wing with David Havili coming in at fullback with an eye on goal-kicking.
Up front, Matt Todd starts while Codie Taylor is in the hooking role for the Red and Blacks.
The rest of the two squads not playing in the main game will feature in the match between the Highlanders Bravehearts and the Crusaders Knights as a curtain-raiser for the Super Rugby match.