Ryan Jones has recovered from injury to captain Wales but Shane Williams is in a race against time to face England in Cardiff on Saturday.

Jones is currently the only change from last weekend's 26-13 victory over Scotland, replacing Dafydd Jones in the back row.

Ospreys wing Williams missed training today because of an ankle injury suffered at Murrayfield.

The world player of the year will be reassessed tomorrow but if he fails to recover then Mark Jones, of Scarlets, will be promoted from outside the matchday 22.

No8 Andy Powell is also a doubt after he pulled up in training with a tight calf muscle. He has been named in the XV but will also be assessed tomorrow.

Centre Gavin Henson is out of the match as he is still troubled by the calf strain which forced him to withdraw from the Scotland game just 48 hours before kick-off.

Italy coach Nick Mallet has recalled scrum-half Paul Griffen to face Ireland on Sunday following the disastrous experiment of using Mauro Bergamasco at No9.

Injuries to three scrum-halves led to Mallet playing Bergamasco in that role against England but the flanker was so bad he was hauled off at half-time.

But with Griffen back in the XV after a 16-month international absence, Bergamasco returns to his normal position.

Luke McLean will play fly-half at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome as the usual No10, Andrea Marcato, is ruled out with the head injury he suffered against England.

Ireland will field the same team who beat France 30-21.