CARDIFF (AFP) - Star fly-half Dan Carter will have the chance to become the All Blacks' record international points scorer this weekend after being passed fit to play Wales at the Millennium Stadium here on Saturday.

Carter suffered a calf muscle injury during New Zealand's 32-19 Bledisloe Cup win over Australia in Tokyo last Saturday.

But he was included on Wednesday in coach Graham Henry's team despite not training earlier in the day.

Carter needs just 16 more points to overhaul Andrew Mehrtens's New Zealand Test record of 967.

If he achieves the feat against Wales, Carter will have got there in six fewer Tests than former outside-half Mehrtens - 64 to 70.

And Carter has an especially fine record against Wales, with 92 points in five previous Tests.

Former Wales coach Henry made six changes to last weekend's starting XV.

Zac Guildford, the 20-year-old wing, is set for a Test debut in place of Sitiveni Sivivatu, ruled out of the Wales match after receiving a one-week ban for a dangerous tackle against Australia in Tokyo.

Elsewhere Brendon Leonard came off the bench to play scrum-half in a swop with Jimmy Cowan while up front prop Wyatt Crockett replaced Tony Woodcock, suspended for striking Wallaby flanker George Smith in Japan.

In the back-row, Kieran Read took over at No 8 from Rodney So'oialo, flanker Jerome Kaino came in for Adam Thomson and Jason Eaton replaced Tom Donnelly in the second row.

New Zealand have not lost to Wales since 1953, a run of 20 straight Test wins. Nevertheless, Henry insisted he was not anticipating an easy start to the All Blacks' European tour.

"We are expecting another major challenge against the Welsh this weekend," Henry said of a team coached by another New Zealander in Warren Gatland.

"They are a very strong side, with a lot of experienced players so we will have to be at the top of the game."

New Zealand have only won the World Cup once, when triumphing on home soil in the inaugural 1987 edition.

The tournament returns to New Zealand in two years' time where the rugby-mad public are likely to regard anything less than the capture of the Webb Ellis trophy as a failure.

Henry, controversially re-appointed after New Zealand lost to France in Cardiff in the quarter-finals of the 2007 World Cup, said this tour, which also features Tests against England, Italy and France, would give him the chance to run the rule over several promising players.

"We have said that the aims of the tour, while obviously to win, are to play rugby we are proud of and for players to push for future selection for the All Blacks and they are getting the opportunity this Saturday and beyond."

New Zealand team to play Wales at the Millennium Stadium here on Saturday (1715GMT):

(15-1):

Mils Muliaina; Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Zac Guildford; Dan Carter, Brendon Leonard; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino; Jason Eaton, Brad Thorn; Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Wyatt Crockett.

Replacements: Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Tom Donnelly, Adam Thomson, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Ben Smith