All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith says ace playmaker Dan Carter will be ready to face Wales in Saturday's Test at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Carter has been nursing a calf injury sustained during last weekend's Bledisloe Cup match against the Wallabies in Tokyo and it was initially feared that he will miss the Cardiff Test.

Coach Graham Henry will name his side on Thursday but it appears that Carter will be there as he sits just 15 points shy of Andrew Mehrtens' All Blacks Test pointscoring record of 967.

"Rather than a strain it's a bruise. He's walking around pretty well, he'll do a managed run tomorrow as part of training, then it's just a matter of getting him through to the game," Smith told the New Zealand Press Association.

"I'd imagine he would be [available]."

"Luke McAlister (ankle) would probably be fit for selection, while Tamati Ellison and Liam Messam [both calf] were unlikely," Smith said.

Smith hinted at minor changes from the 32-19 win over the Wallabies, aside from the suspensions of Sitiveni Sivivatu and Tony Woodcock which should see wing Zac Guildford and prop Wyatt Crockett called up.

"Part of the idea of this tour was to put heat on people, make it competitive and make sure players understood they were playing for their futures," Smith said.

Meanwhile, Wales boss Warren Gatland's comment about the All Blacks losing their aura continued to receive plenty of mileage as the Welsh try to break their 56-year, 20-Test losing streak against the Kiwis.

However, Smith labelled it a coaching tactic from the former All Blacks hooker.

"Some [All Blacks] players will use that as a bit of motivation to prove something," Smith said.

"Part of his philosophy will be to try and get a rise out of us, and part of it will be to try and get his own players up."

The All Blacks haven't lost a Test on a northern hemisphere tour since 2002, aside from the obvious hiccup in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final against France.

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