Richie McCaw will lead New Zealand in Sunday's World Cup semi-final against Australia at Eden Park despite a persistent foot injury that is preventing him from training.

There had been speculation here this week that McCaw would be forced to withdraw from the tournament but the New Zealand coach, Graham Henry, said it was a case of managing the injury, which an operation in February had failed to cure.

"Richie has a niggling injury and we have taken the pragmatic view that the more we keep him off the foot this week, the more chance he has of playing the 80 minutes on Sunday," Henry said. "He has been frustrated not being able to play a full part but he is pretty upbeat today and looking forward to the game."

Henry's back-row options have been reduced by an ankle injury suffered by Adam Thomson that has probably ended the 29-year-old's tournament, although Henry said he would not be calling up a replacement.

Aaron Cruden becomes the third fly-half to start for New Zealand this tournament after the injuries suffered by Dan Carter and Colin Slade, one of three changes from the side that started against Argentina last Sunday.

He will partner Piri Weepu at half-back, the combination that took the field in Sydney last year when the All Blacks won 23-22. Israel Dagg returns at full-back and Richard Kahui replaces Sonny Bill Williams on the left wing.

"Aaron is a year older now and more experienced," Henry said. "It is a big challenge for him but he is a bright young player who knows the game well. He will handle the occasion."

Henry said the facts that Australia were coached by a New Zealander, Robbie Deans, who was overlooked for the All Blacks job in 2007, and that it was a match-up between two of the biggest rivals in the game would make no difference.

"It is a World Cup semi-final," he said. "If the players are not focused now they never will be. We lost to Australia last time out in Brisbane but we were a bit disjointed because some players arrived from South Africa and others from New Zealand. We knew we would have bigger fish to fry later on.

"It does not matter who is coaching Australia – it could be Ms Gillard [the prime minister]. We need to win this weekend and the next one to lift the World Cup. That is what it is about."

New Zealand: Dagg; Jane, Smith, Nonu, Kahui; Cruden, Weepu; Woodcock, Mealamu, Franks, Whitelock, Thorn, Kaino, McCaw (capt), Read. Replacements: Hore, Franks, Williams, Vito, Ellis, Donald, Williams.