Sylvain Marconnet is "working like a donkey" to be fit in time to face Ireland in the World Cup in September, according to France team-mate Imanol Harinordoquy.

Prop Marconnet, who is recovering from a broken leg he sustained in March, will discover tomorrow whether he is to be retained for the World Cup which begins next month.

A medical examination will determine the fate of the Stade Francais frontrow, who is his country's most capped prop with 71 international appearances.  He is a regular fixture in Les Bleus' first choice line-up, but it appears he is losing his battle to regain full fitness with the World Cup just over three weeks away.

Harinordoquy admits Marconnet's absence at the showpiece would hit France hard. "I am quite close to him, I am watching it all develop and how he is going," said the Biarritz back-rower. "It is hard for us to see, but it is even harder for him. I have seen him and he is working like a donkey.

"He is working outside the squad, which is difficult because we would prefer him to be closer to us and working with us.

"He is someone who is very important in the squad — if he can't make the World Cup, it is going to be a major blow to the team.

"But he is battling against time, and against time you can't really do a great deal."

Ireland face France in Paris on September 21st, but the prospects do not look good for Marconnet. His recovery from the operation on his left shinbone has been stalled by a nagging ankle injury that often comes when a player tries to force himself back to fitness as quickly as possible.

He will not take part in any of France's warm-up games ahead of the World Cup, and would go into the tournament cold, untested and without any competitive rugby under his belt in almost seven months.

Nicolas Mas, who has been training with Les Bleus for the past fortnight, is on stand-by and will replace Marconnet if the latter does miss out.

Harinordoquy, meanwhile, should start for France against England on Saturday in Marseille after missing the 21-15 win over the world champions last weekend.

He is facing fierce competition for a starting place in the World Cup, with head coach Bernard Laporte blessed with a considerable choice of backrow talent.

But Harinordoquy could be handed an opportunity at number eight this weekend, and he is ready to take it both hands.

"After a lot of preparation, I am expecting a very hard match," he said. "When you are coming back into the team, it is never easy and I lack rhythm. But that comes with playing rugby matches and I really want to impose myself on the game.

"The competition (in the back row) is good. At the moment, we are almost all at the same level, each with different qualities, so it depends on the type of game you want to play."

He is likely to be joined in the backrow by Yannick Nyanga and Julien Bonnaire. Frederic Michalak and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde should form the halfback partnership this weekend.

France will name their team for Saturday's match on Friday afternoon.