Sergio Parisse took some part in his first training session with his Italian team-mates in Cobham yesterday after linking up with them on Tuesday, and although still considered doubtful pending further tests on his calf injury, it seems highly probable that he will be pressed into action.

Parisse has been undergoing intensive rehab and medical testing with his club Stade Francais since surgery to drain a haematoma in his right calf which he suffered in Italy’s final warm-up defeat away to Wales in early September.

The 32-yer-old Italian captain is himself confident of playing, whereas their vice-captain Leonardo Ghiraldini, holder of 79 caps, is in much graver danger of missing what is a must-win game for Italy due to the hip flexor strain he sustained in the laboured win over Canada.

Another veteran of the team, Martin Castrogiovanni, who will turn 34 this month and has 114 caps, has also emerged as a slight doubt due to a thigh strain and was unable to train fully yesterday. But there seems little doubt that Parisse and Castrogiovnni will be wheeled out in such circumstances.