"Watching the last few weeks has been frustrating - you always want to play," he said. "I'm excited about being back."
Noakes, an almost ever-present at No 10 last season before his neck injury, said he had worked on his game and had regained confidence by playing for his University club and the Blues development team.
"A lot of it was urgency around attack - to be a bit more aggressive at the line to enable our outsides to have more time on the ball without as many defenders in front of them.
"Simon has certainly taken his opportunities and played really well, so he's set the mark where we need to be. I need to get there and hopefully above so he has to pick himself up a little bit higher and our team is winning more games than it's losing."
Blues coach John Kirwan said the challenge of playing the Hurricanes at what would probably be a wet and windy Cake Tin suited Noakes' game and denied Hickey had been discarded.
"No, not at all. I think it was the greatest learning he could have had. It was a hard evening for him, he'll come out of it a better player. We still think he is a huge part of our future but we think Noakesy is the right person to play against the Hurricanes.
"I just think we need a bit more direction under pressure ... someone that will drive us around the football paddock and implement the game plan we need to play."
Hickey won't make the trip after missing a place in the reserves. The under-employed Benji Marshall will cover first-five and fullback.
The battle of the first-fives is likely to play an important part tomorrow. Beauden Barrett is approaching his best form for the Hurricanes, who have won their past two games.
Halfback TJ Perenara also appears to have got his mojo back. Facing him will be the inexperienced Bryn Hall, who also had a tough time in Canberra.
The Blues will field a strong pack with hooker Keven Mealamu back from his calf injury and Tom Donnelly and Patrick Tuipulotu also returning from leg injuries. Wing Lolagi Visinia gets his first start of the season, ahead of Frank Halai, who has been underwhelming.
Kirwan will ask Ma'a Nonu to take the pressure off Noakes after a quiet game against the Brumbies.
Hurricanes v Blues
Wellington, 7.35pm
Hurricanes
Andre Taylor
Cory Jane
Conrad Smith +
Alapati Leiua
Julian Savea
Beauden Barrett
T.J. Perenara
Victor Vito
Jack Lam
Faifili Levave
James Broadhurst
Jeremy Thrush
J.Toomaga-Allen
Dane Coles
Reg Goodes
Hurricanes: Motu Matu'u, Chris Eves, John Schwalger, Blade Thomson, Ardie Savea, Chris Smylie, Tim Bateman, Matt Proctor.
Blues
Charles Piutau
George Moala
Francis Saili
Ma'a Nonu
Lolagi Visinia
Chris Noakes
Bryn Hall
Jerome Kaino
Luke Braid +
Steven Luatua
Tom Donnelly
Patrick Tuipulotu
Charlie Faumuina
Keven Mealamu
Tony Woodcock
Blues: James Parsons, Sam Prattley, Angus Ta'avao, Liaki Moli, Brendon O'Connor, Jamison Gibson-Park, Benji Marshall, Frank Halai.
