Indianapolis Colts star Dwight Freeney is set to test his injured right ankle for the first time on Friday in a bid to be fit for Super Bowl XLIV.

The defensive end, an integral part of the Colts' journey to the NFL play-offs with 13.5 sacks in nine regular season starts, tore ankle ligaments during the AFC Championship victory over the New York Jets 11 days ago.

The injury, classed as a Grade III sprain, threatens to prevent Freeney from facing the New Orleans Saints in Sunday's seasonal finale at Miami's SunLife Stadium.

But the 29-year-old said today he would start putting it to the test on Friday.

"I think my first attempt will probably be tomorrow," Freeney said during a press conference in Miami.

"I will probably go out and see what I can do tomorrow and then Saturday a lot more."

Despite still being listed as questionable for Sunday night, Freeney insisted his ankle was improving.

"I am still day to day. Every time I wake up in the morning I reassess the situation.

"I'm just feeling it out. It's starting to feel a little better and it is starting to look more like an ankle now.

"It is definitely a little sore. I think that is the nature of the injury, but it is making progress.

" The swelling is going down. I have yet to test it huge as in a big confidence booster as in sprinting or anything like that. That will probably come maybe Friday or Saturday at some point. That will give me an indication of where I am at, but I know I am moving in the right direction and that is all I can ask.

"It is a balancing act here. You don't want to go too hard too early. You have to make sure everything is right and safe before you go out there."

Freeney did admit, though, the speculation over his availability for the Super Bowl was useful in terms of keeping the Saints guessing.

"I think this is part of the game," Freeney said. "You don't really want to reveal everything.

"From a strategic standpoint, you kind of talk about it but you never know what is going to happen so you are kind of like 'I am not going to go and say it is set in stone' because miracles do happen.

"Just say 'it is one of those situations'. I'm not going to go and say 'oh definitely not'."