BOTH Ireland and England expect to field as selected in the International Championship match at Twickenham on Saturday.

Ireland loose head prop Nick Popplewell, who has been under treatment for a hamstring injury, and second row Jeremy Davidson, for whiplash, are expected to be fit. They reported when the team assembled in Dublin last night, and manager Pat Whelan said they would train this morning with the team before flying to London.

Popplewell's injury had forced whim to miss the training sessions last weekend. Davidson did not complete the session on Sunday morning, but there was no real doubt about his fitness. But Popplewell was able train during the week without any discomfort from the hamstring.

"We do not anticipate any problems. The medical advice is that Nick Popplewell will be fit to play and we expect him to take a full part in the training session today. Unless any problems arise in that, and we do not anticipate any, then he will definitely play," said Whelan last night.

The England number eight, Dean Richards, who did not train last weekend because of strained knee ligaments sustained in the match against Scotland the previous week, took a full part in the England training session yesterday. The official line is that England will wait to see if there is any reaction today, but Richards said he is confident the trouble has cleared up.

The England manager, Jack Rowell, was cautioning his players be wary of Ireland. "They will see themselves very much as outsiders in this game and that is the role Ireland like best and when they can be most dangerous," said Rowell.

He said that England must be prepared for an opening salvo from the Irish. "That is causing me some worry and we must he prepared for it," he added. He also stated that he thought the Irish half back combination of Niall Hogan and David Humphreys represented a danger to his side.

The Ireland A team to meet England in Richmond tomorrow also assembled last night. Flanker Liam Toland, under treatment for neck injury, has been declared fit.

The Ireland senior side will train at Lansdowne Road this morning in what will be a closed session and the A team will train at the Garda complex at Westmanstown.