Brown said he's hoping the rate of recovery can remain steady to have him fit for New Zealand's group stage matches.

"I'm really happy with the way things have been going. I hope to fit four weeks of rehabilitation into a week and things are going as well as can be expected at this stage," he said.

"But there is still a way to go. Hopefully I can continue to progress at the rate I have been over the last seven days."

All Whites team doctor Celeste Geertseema said Brown will be assessed on Wednesday to see if he will be available for the group stages.

"Tim has been reviewed by the surgeon yesterday and his progress has been excellent. He has already embarked on a rehabilitation program and this will be progressed over the next week."

"We are all very pleased with the speed with which he is recovering and we remain optimistic that he will be able to join the team in South Africa."

Brown is doing daily physiotherapy including cycling and walking, and will start running on Saturday.