Sonny Bill shakes off sore shoulder

Sonny Bill Williams has shaken off a dose of flu and a sore shoulder, and is ready to tackle Scotland in the Kiwis' Rugby League World Cup quarter-final.

New Zealand's Sonny Bill Williams in action during a match

NZ's Sonny Bill Williams confirmed he is ready to play at the Rugby League World Cup quarter-final. (AAP)

Sonny Bill Williams has allayed fears he may miss the Kiwis' Rugby League World Cup quarter-final against Scotland.

Williams has been nursing a sore shoulder following his man-of-the-match performance in New Zealand's comprehensive win over Papua New Guinea in their final pool match.

He scored a first-half hat-trick as the Kiwis ran in 10 tries in their 56-10 thumping of the Kumuls.

"It's feeling pretty good now, with an extra day to recover. I've been a bit sick too, but I'm feeling pretty good at the moment," Williams said.

He's also confident the bout of the flu will disappear before facing the Bravehearts in Leeds on Friday (Saturday NZT).

"I don't think it's real contagious, I just have bit of a runny nose and a cough. I'm on the antibiotics at the moment, so I should hopefully be sweet and 100 per cent in the next 48 hours."

Williams' recovery will be crucial to New Zealand's chances at the tournament, and he says the Kiwis need to lift their game if they want to defend their title.

"We've played good in patches, but if we play like that in the knockout stages, we're not going to win this thing."

Williams says Scotland's halves pairing of Super League's Man of Steel, Danny Brough, and former NSW Origin halfback Peter Wallace will be key targets.

"Their No.6 has just been on fire, he's playing some good footy.

"Obviously, with Peter Wallace as his halves partner, they have a great kicking game. They just put it into the corners and the Scottish boys are just tackling their hearts out."

Scotland recorded a narrow 26-24 win over Tonga and a 22-8 victory over the US as well as a 30-30 draw with Italy to qualify for the playoffs.


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Source: AAP


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