Mark Wilson and Anthony Watson have both been included in the retained list of players as England prepare for their Guinness Six Nations clash with Wales on Saturday.
England welcome the defending champions to Twickenham knowing that a win would secure the Triple Crown and maintain their Championship hopes going into the final round.
Eddie Jones’ men were beaten by France on the opening weekend of the Championship but bounced back with wins over Scotland and Ireland to get their title challenge back on track.
And Jones has been handed the boost of Wilson and Watson being available for the showdown with Wayne Pivac’s side, with both players retained in the latest 27-man squad update.
Wilson has yet to feature in this year’s competition after being kept out of action by an injury picked up in the Rugby World Cup, but the flanker recently returned to action for Sale Sharks.
The 30-year-old, who is on a year-long loan from Newcastle, came through last week’s camp in Oxford and is challenging for a back-row spot after overcoming his knee injury.
Meanwhile, Watson has also been on the sidelines for the opening rounds of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations with a calf injury but the Bath Rugby star is now on the cusp of a return.
Like Wilson, Watson has not played for England since the World Cup in Japan, although he is now staking a claim for a back-three spot for the penultimate round.
Jones will confirm his 23-man squad on Thursday at 10:45am.
Forwards
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs) Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) Ben Earl (Saracens) Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby) Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers) Jamie George (Saracens) Maro Itoje (Saracens) George Kruis (Saracens) Joe Launchbury (Wasps) Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints) Joe Marler (Harlequins) Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins) Will Stuart (Bath Rugby) Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby) Mark Wilson (Sale Sharks)
Backs
Elliot Daly (Saracens) Owen Farrell (Saracens) George Ford (Leicester Tigers) George Furbank (Northampton Saints) Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby) Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby) Jonny May (Leicester Tigers) Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers) Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby) Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
