Key All Blacks back in action

Daniel Carter says he has benefited from his enforced rest after a shoulder injury. Picture / Dean Purcell

After missing the final Lions test with a shoulder injury, pivotal All Black first five-eighths Daniel Carter appears to be back to full fitness as the side build towards their opening Tri-Nations match.

The All Blacks head to South Africa today after regrouping in Auckland on Wednesday. They have had a two-week break, but for Carter, who missed the final test, the break was longer.

"It has been good to freshen up," he said. "I went straight from the Crusaders' campaign into the All Blacks' campaign and didn't really get much of break there."

"It has been a pretty full-on season so far. It was good to sit back and have a couple of weeks off."

Carter said the All Blacks had focused on getting the new faces in the side familiar with their roles and working on strategies to counteract the powerful Springbok side.

"Obviously they [the Springboks] showed what they are capable of last weekend in putting the Aussies away. They are extremely dangerous ... When they get a roll on, they are hard to stop with their big forwards, and they have some exciting backs.

"We have worked out a few things and a few ways we can counter them. Their defence is a little bit different. They really rush up and get into your face, so we just have to try to exploit that."

For Carter, who following his 33-point haul in the second Lions test looks set to become one of the game's greats, the Tri-Nations is a new challenge

"I have put all that behind me and will just concentrate on what I have to do for the team to play well. I was pleased with that game, but I have moved forward. When you have a match like that you can't just sit back and relax. You want to play a better game than that, you are always trying to improve."

While it will be of interest to see how the All Blacks' backline functions without the leadership of Justin Marshall, Carter doesn't see his role on the field changing too much.

"I have got my role to call the moves and things like that. I don't think anything changes there. Byron [Kelleher] has played plenty of tests. He is a good leader as well. It is a shame to see Marshy [Marshall] go, but these players have got their chances now to step up."

The All Blacks head to South Africa with close to a fully-fit squad. An MRI scan has cleared winger Sitiveni Sivivatu of any major damage to a shoulder he injured in Wednesday's training.

Captain Tana Umaga sat out yesterday's session with a bruised toe after it was stood on during Wednesday's practice, and vice-captain Richie McCaw has the flu.

On the sideline for yesterday's morning session was US Open champion Michael Campbell and his family, who are home for a short break.