Craig Quinnell has been given the green light to try to regain his place in Wales' Five Nations Championship line-up.
The powerful Richmond lock missed last weekend's 33-20 defeat against Scotland at Murrayfield because of a knee ligament injury. But he is poised to prove his fitness when Richmond entertain English Premiership rivals Sale on Sunday and has been named in Wales coach Graham Henry's latest 24-man squad.
Quinnell's considerable physical presence will be needed by Wales for their Five Nations appointment with Ireland at Wembley on Saturday week, and he is set to replace promising Pontypridd youngster Ian Gough.
Henry yesterday added Quinnell and Cardiff prop David Young to the 22 players who were on duty in Edinburgh. Young withdrew barely 24 hours before the kick-off against Scotland after hurting a calf muscle during Wales' final work-out.
But he will be looking to prove his fitness in tomorrow's friendly between Bath and Cardiff. "David is now considerably more upbeat about his prospects," said a Welsh Rugby Union spokesman.
Cardiff wing Gareth Thomas, for the second Five Nations Test running, is sidelined while he recovers from shoulder surgery - but Swansea's Matthew Robinson proved a capable deputy at Murrayfield.
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