The All Blacks prop Charlie Faumuina concedes his fitness remains a work in progress just four days out from their first match of the Rugby World Cup.
All Blacks training World Cup 2015 Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Faumuina recovered from neck surgery in the nick of time to claim his place in the World Cup squad.
He missed the Rugby Championship to undergo the operation and has played just one game since June, completing just 40 minutes for Auckland in a provincial match.
The 28-year-old conceded he's still yet to reach optimum levels of fitness.
"It's what it is, it's something I've got to keep working on all the time but it's getting better and I'll just have to keep working hard."
The All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has hinted Faumuina will likely play a part in both New Zealand's first two games against Argentina on Monday and Namibia just four days later.
Hansen said he was confident in Faumuina's ability, he just needed to get match fit.