All Black lock Ali is out for the second season with an Achilles tendon injury, while Paul went through three traumatic years after a compound fracture in his leg.
He was wearing the Highlanders colours when his tibia and fibula were broken in a match at Carisbrook against the Blues in 2003.
Recovery was slow and complicated and Williams has suffered other injuries which have restricted his career.
The latest was a head knock in the Blues trial game which prevented him starting round one against the Hurricanes.
However, he has recovered fully and is reinstated at fullback for the Blues and a trip back to his first Super rugby home in Dunedin.
"This will be a great chance to play against some really good mates and it will be good to catch up with them.
"There may not be too much time to have a word with them during the game.
"Being at fullback, I'm not often close enough for conversations. But afterwards there should be plenty of time."
Williams has picked up 31 Super caps and played about 40 provincial games since his 2003 debut, indicating just how much injury has bitten into his career.
"It took me a good 12 months to feel that I wanted to push myself on the rugby field," he said of his recovery.
"That was half a season with Canterbury in '06 and then the next campaign with the Crusaders in '07.
"It is well behind me now but it took some time.
"Injury is part of the game and something you have to get used to but we are rugby players and we are keen to get out there every week and when we can't it is a bit demoralising."
Williams said the Highlanders would have been buoyed by their recovery work against the Crusaders last week and would bring that enthusiasm and confidence to their play tonight at Carisbrook.
"The Crusaders managed to shut down a lot of the Highlanders' plays so we did not get to see what they have to offer on attack and that has to be what we are aiming for as well," he said.
"We are not too anxious. It is a long competition."
By Wynne Gray of The New Zealand Herald
Super 14
ROUND 2 DRAW
Highlanders v Blues
Dunedin, Friday, February 19, 7.35pm
Reds v Crusaders
Brisbane, Friday, February 19, 10.45pm
Sharks v Cheetahs
Durban, Saturday, February 20, 5am
Lions v Chiefs
Johannesburg, Saturday, February 20, 7am
Hurricanes v Force
Wellington, Saturday, February 20, 7.35pm
Bulls v Brumbies
Pretoria, Sunday, February 21, 4.05am
Stormers v Waratahs
Cape Town, Sunday, February 21, 6.10am
MATCH OF THE ROUND
Stormers v Waratahs. Both these sides have untapped potential but have never truly delivered over the years. The Stormers will want to show their loyal fans that they can show some consistency at home, while the Waratahs need to show some more weapons after a lucky win over the Reds last weekend.
