By Mark Geenty of NZPA

Cardiff, Nov 6 NZPA - Dan Carter stood largely idle today at a bone-chilling Cardiff Arms Park, but a short burst with the backs at All Blacks rugby training was enough to declare himself on track to face Wales here on Sunday (NZT).

The All Blacks' kingpin admitted there was still soreness in his badly bruised right calf muscle as he sprinted for the first time since Saturday's 32-19 win over the Wallabies.

And while he sat out much of the two-hour session next door to Millennium Stadium, as Stephen Donald directed the backs in the team run, Carter was already eyeing his duel with experienced Welsh pivot Stephen Jones.

He slotted in for a short session with the backs, then later did some goalkicking which suggested some confidence.

"You've just got to have the belief that you can do out there and do it and I'm confident I can," he said.

"I'll see how I pull up tomorrow but there's still a couple of days to get it right and I've got to keep improving.

"If I'm out there I want to get out there and get stuck in. I don't want to be holding back because of a slight niggle. I'll be doing everything I can to get amongst it."

He said the final decision to play would be his, in consultation with medical staff who had supervised his recovery this week with ice treatment, massage and light cycling work.

Carter was unconcerned with his lack of time at training with a side boasting six changes this week, and said the adjustment was more mental. He kept a close eye on the team run alongside attack coach Steve Hansen.

News of his probable return was welcomed by Lions pivot Jones, who has never beaten the All Blacks in eight attempts.

"I have beaten most of the top rugby-playing nations in my career and I'd be delighted to add New Zealand to the list -- I'm sure every Welshman would say the same," Jones said.

"Of course, we believe we can beat the All Blacks."

Carter, who sits just 15 points shy of Andrew Mehrtens' All Blacks test record of 967 points, said this week was about the All Blacks maintaining their improvement from Tokyo and imposing themselves on the northern hemisphere sides after a shaky test season including four defeats.

He admitted Wales coach Warren Gatland's gibes about the All Blacks losing their aura of invincibility had been noted by some in the team.

"We've had a tough year but we're really developing. When you hear comments like that it does get the blood going and guys can get pretty fired up.

"We've had a couple of good performances this year and we want to put our name back on the world stage and there's no better way than playing a strong Welsh side and putting in a good performance."

Wales were a good yardstick, said Carter, with 12 returnees from last year's starting lineup who led the All Blacks 9-6 at halftime after a tense standoff at the haka.

The All Blacks then scored 23 unanswered points to stretch their winning streak to 20 tests against Wales since 1953.

"They're an extremely skilful side, they've got some exciting backs, their back three are all great runners and their midfield are extremely strong and they'll look to those guys to set their gameplan up," Carter said.

"It will be similar to last year the way they came out extremely physical and fired up. We really have to match that and get our game going."

There were no other training dramas, with lock Brad Thorn taking a full part after a slight neck problem at yesterday's session.