WALES ARE optimistic captain Sam Warburton will be fit to lead his team’s RBS Six Nations title bid against France next Saturday.

Warburton misses today’s Millennium Stadium appointment with Italy because of a knee injury, the latest problem following thigh trouble that restricted him to just 40 minutes’ action during victories over Ireland and Scotland last month.

Prop Gethin Jenkins will skipper the side in World Cup leader Warburton’s absence, with Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric handed a first Test match start, packing down alongside backrow colleagues Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau.

A Wales victory would then leave them needing to beat France for their third Six Nations title and Grand Slam in eight seasons.

“The medical opinion is that we are very hopeful he (Warburton) will be fit to face France next week,” Wales assistant coach Rob Howley said.

Of more immediate concern is the Six Nations favourites putting Italy away to set up next week’s full-scale assault on Six Nations silverware.

Howley added: “We want to play a tempo, ball-in-hand game, but in order to do that we have to be accurate in our kicking game.

“When you see how Italy have played so far, they have good line speed in defence and we have to be aware of that. It is something we did not deal with well at Twickenham, and we have to put that right tomorrow.

“International rugby is about starting well. We have started all three games well so far, and it was a disappointment that the territory and possession we had in the first 20 minutes at Twickenham did not show on the scoreboard.

“We have to focus on the first 20 minutes, dominating possession and territory. If we are able to do that, the second half is a little easier.”

Wales have won five and drawn one of their Six Nations encounters against Italy in Cardiff, averaging almost 40 points a time.

But defence coach Shaun Edwards said: “There will be no complacency tomorrow because the players are all fighting for their places . . . No one wants to lose their spot in the team.