New Zealand outhalf Daniel Carter tested his injured calf muscle in a full training session yesterday after expressing confidence that he will be fit for tomorrow's World Cup quarter-final against France.

"The calf is good. We have a couple of runs before Saturday to make it right and the first one of those comes this afternoon," Carter told reporters. "Earlier in the week I couldn't walk on it but that has gone now. I have to get focused on this match and I've tried to be in the best shape possible."

Carter, probably the All Blacks' most influential player both as a line-breaking standoff and goalkicker, missed New Zealand's final group match against Romania last weekend after straining the muscle in training.

Yesterday's admission that he had been unable to walk properly at the start of the week was the first public indication the injury may have been more serious than was immediately apparent. However, he took a full part practice and will train again in the final session at the Millennium Stadium today.

"The injury has been frustrating but I have prepared as well as I can and know the game plan so hopefully the next few days will go well," Carter said. "I've been reasonably happy with my performances but there's room for improvement. I've only played two matches so this is the game I've prepared myself for. I want to step my game up."

Wing Joe Rokocoko underlined the quiet confidence in the New Zealand side when he said the rest of the players were not concerned about Carter's injury. "We don't worry about one player," he said. "He's a great player but we've got fantastic confidence in anyone who comes into this team. Even if Dan cannot play, Nick Evans will come in and he's been outstanding. That's the key to our rotation policy in the last two to three years and any player who has played can come into the side and feel comfortable with those who are already playing."