Dan Carter could start at No.10 or come off the bench against Scotland © Getty Images

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Dan Carter's master class at Murrayfield two years ago will seem a world away for the All Blacks great when he faces Scotland on Saturday.

New Zealand assistant coach Ian Foster confirmed Carter will either start the Test at first five-eighth or come off the reserves bench. The team named on Thursday is likely to more closely resemble the line-up that thrashed the United States in the Chicago tour-opener than the full-strength outfit who pipped England last weekend at Twickenham.

Carter, 32, enjoyed a 30-minute bench cameo at Chicago in his only Test appearance of an injury-riddled year. He has trained fluently since and is set to replace Aaron Cruden, who started both Tests.

"We're keen for Dan to get significant game time on this tour," Foster said. "He just has to carry on doing what he's doing. He took some good steps in Chicago and I think he got a lot of confidence out of getting back on the park and used to the systems."

Carter was the standout figure the last time the All Blacks played Scotland, regularly shredding the defensive line and kicking 21 points in a 51-22 drubbing of the hosts. He made rugby look easy, something Foster doesn't expect to happen this week.

"It's clearly going to be a pretty significant step up," he said. "It's just getting timing and getting used to the speed of the defence coming at you. They're little things that come with time in the saddle, to be frank."

Carter has played just eight out of a possible 29 Tests since the Edinburgh win. Foster says Carter and rugby league returnee Sonny Bill Williams have both impressed at trainings with their eagerness to adapt quickly back to the rigours of Test rugby. "We're trying to simulate as much as we can," Foster said. "We've been able to speed up the process but that's largely due to their desire and their attitude to get it right."