New Zealand v France
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Saturday, 6 October
Kick-off: 2000 BST
The 25-year-old missed the Romania win with a calf strain and has been restricted to light training this week but was named in the Kiwi starting XV.
"I'm confident I've progressed and I'll be fine," he said.
"This is what I've prepared myself for - the knockout games. I need to step up my game another level."
Centre Luke McAlister said losing Carter would be a blow but would not alter New Zealand's threat.
"Obviously we'd like him to play but if not, Nick Evans can step in there," said McAlister, who is set to play beside Carter at inside centre.
| | The selection of the side is probably the most difficult it's been since we've done the job, particularly the backs New Zealand coach Graham Henry |
"We've got the best players in the world and we've learned to adapt to each other for the last three or four years, so it's no big deal."
New Zealand's record try-scorer Doug Howlett was left out of coach Graham Henry's 22 when he named the All Blacks team on Tuesday.
Howlett, who has scored 48 Test tries, has been kept out of the side by Sitiveni Sivivatu.
The winger is one of only five players that remain from the side that beat Romania, along with McAlister, wing Joe Rokocoko, lock Keith Robinson and back row Jerry Collins.
Robinson is preferred at lock to Chris Jack, while Anton Oliver starts at hooker, with Keven Mealamu on the bench.
Leon MacDonald starts at full-back and Mils Muliaina comes in at outside centre.
"The selection of the side is probably the most difficult it's been since we've done the job, particularly the backs," said Henry.
"We could have picked any of our 14 backs in this match because they're all playing exceptionally well.
"Up front, there is a bit of a gap between the top and second players in some positions. That's no criticism of the second player, that's just the fact of the matter.
"Having tough choices to make is a great situation to be in but it's also difficult to inform the guys who haven't been picked."
Henry had all of the 30-man squad available for selection, with the exception of loose forward Sione Lauaki, who was banned for two matches for a dangerous tackle on Romania winger Gabriel Brezonianu.
Henry added: "We are excited to play France. Sudden-death rugby obviously has its own tensions and that's the reality all eight teams face this weekend.
"France probably weren't expected to be in this quarter-final so there may be some extra tension in this match particularly.
"As a team we have really enjoyed the big occasions over the last few years and we've enjoyed a good and thorough preparation for this match."
"The All Blacks are a very strong team and if they play in pink, blue or white they would be as strong as playing in black," said France captain Raphael Ibanez.
New Zealand: MacDonald, Rokocoko, Muliaina, McAlister, Sivivatu, Carter, Kelleher; Woodcock, Oliver, Hayman, Robinson, Williams, Collins, McCaw (capt), So'oialo.
Replacements: Mealamu, Tialata, Jack, Masoe , Leonard, Evans, Toeava.
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