Flyhalf Daniel Carter is ready to take his place in the New Zealand side for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against France after completing a light training session at the Millennium Stadium.

Carter withdrew from the team that played Romania in the final pool game last weekend with a calf strain. He played a full part in practice on Thursday and was moving freely during a light kicking session.

"He trained pretty well yesterday," coach Graham Henry told a news conference. "He trained well today. He's kicking beautifully."

Hosts France, who were forced to play on foreign territory after they lost their opening game against Argentina, trained later in the day.

Manager Jo Maso told a news conference it had still not been decided which strip the French would wear on Saturday night after they won the toss on Tuesday which gave them the choice of uniforms.

He said they would probably play in their dark blue shirt with white shorts and socks although their alternate white uniform would arrive in time.

Henry said the All Blacks were happy with the silver and black outfit they wore against Scotland in the group stages, which caused some confusion with the home side's strip at Murrayfield.

"As far as we know we are going to be wearing silver. We're quite relaxed about it," he said.

New Zealand's only injury concern is hooker Keven Mealamu, who has been named on the replacements' bench.

Henry said Mealamu would undergo a test on a tight hamstring on Saturday. "It's touch and go," he said.

New Zealand, untested in the pool stages after Scotland opted to play a second-string side, have lifted the intensity of their training this week for their first game in the knockout stages.

"We go out there to try and improve on performances," said captain Richie McCaw. "We're always looking to improve. The games we haven't gone so well in we have maybe been a bit complacent.

"We've got 30 players who could all be out there tomorrow night. Because we've got such strength in the squad with everyone wanting places the standards stay up. If one guy doesn't perform then another guy will come in."

McCaw, 26, also said he had signed a new two-year contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Henry said the All Blacks were prepared for the big-kicking French game promised by his opposite number Bernard Laporte when he moved centre Damien Traille to fullback and selected Lionel Beauxis at flyhalf.

"I think we are going to be bombarded," he said.

Earlier, France prop Pieter de Villiers emphasised the importance of the set pieces in a match where New Zealand will try to establish forward dominance before cutting loose with their backs.

"The set pieces will be a very, very important feature of the game and especially against a team like the All Blacks, a team that has built up a lot of confidence in the set pieces," de Villiers told a news conference.

"It's something they have been addressing over the last three years. All their eight pack down well with the force and the speed they deliver."

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