Wales flanker Dan Lydiate could return from injury for their final Six Nations match with England in Cardiff on March 16.
Lydiate has been out since fracturing his ankle in September playing for Newport Gwent Dragons but is making good progress and has returned to light training sooner than expected.
Wales interim coach Rob Howley said: “At the moment, Dan is probably looking at England. He is ahead of schedule and obviously the decision we have to make is [to select him] for one game or two games.”
But Howley, who saw Wales end an eight-match losing streak with a victory over France last Saturday, added: “On the back of the performance at the weekend, it’s all about the players who are here rather than not here.”
Lydiate, the player of the tournament in Wales’ 2012 Grand Slam campaign, had been expected to play during the final weeks of the season, giving him an outside chance of making the Lions tour to Australia in June. But the 25-year-old, capped 27 times by his country, is set to make his return for Newport in their Pro12 game at home against Leinster on March 1.
Ireland coach Declan Kidney’s problems have increased after Cian Healy was ruled out of his side’s next two Six Nations games against Scotland and France.
Prop Healy has been banned until March 10 for his stamp on Dan Cole during last Sunday’s 10-12 defeat by England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Kidney has already lost the services of winger Simon Zebo for up to 10 weeks with a broken foot, while fly-half Jonathan Sexton is struggling with a hamstring injury and is rated “doubtful” for the clash with Scotland on February 24.
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