Road to the NatWest 6 Nations: Best, Itoje and Vunipola all return

European clashes resume next week, but for now the focus is on the domestic scene still and the likes of Maro Itoje, Billy Vunipola and Rory Best are all set to return.

ENGLAND

Maro Itoje broke his jaw in two places as Saracens slipped to defeat to Harlequins at the start of December.

The club were in the midst of a difficult run but have turned the tide since then and welcome back both Itoje and Billy Vunipola for the clash with Wasps this weekend.

With Nathan Hughes injured, all eyes from an England perspective will be on how No.8 Vunipola shapes up after his return from shoulder and knee surgery.

BILLY'S BACK ?

Your guide to the weekend's @premrugby action: https://t.co/ilAG5d8RTu pic.twitter.com/G7YVigV2eN

- England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) January 5, 2018

And Itoje partners his international teammate Nick Isiekwe in the second row for the clash while Wasps have rested Joe Launchbury.

However, Vunipola's replacement on the Lions tour this past summer James Haskell is in the back row alongside Thomas Young for Wasps for the crunch clash at the Ricoh with serious play-off ramifications.

Elsewhere, injury means table toppers Exeter are without England trio Harry Williams, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jack Nowell although all three should be fine for the start of the Championship.

Henry Slade has also been rested for their trip to Newcastle Falcons as well but another England centre, Manu Tuilagi makes his third start in a row for Leicester Tigers, and his 100^th appearance overall.

Harlequins are without Mike Brown with a minor knock but the impressive prop duo of Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler are again in tandem for their trip to Sale Sharks.

England captain Dylan Hartley again starts for Northampton as they look to halt their slide while Courtney Lawes also starts for their clash with in-form Gloucester.

IRELAND

For a third week in a row, the four provinces will go head to head in Ireland and Ulster are delighted to welcome back Rory Best.

The Ireland captain has recovered from an ankle problem and will start his first game since the beginning of December just in time to show Joe Schmidt he is back to his best.

Ulster take on a Leinster side for whom Jack McGrath will run out as captain for the first time.

Best goes head to head with international rival James Tracy and his Ulster teammate Sean Reidy is betting on a reaction from their sluggish start last time out against Munster.

"It's plain and simple, if we don't turn up it will be a long day at the office," said Reidy.

"The boys are ready, the boys are pumped and the boys are going to take a good and physical attitude down there.

"Our set-piece wasn't good enough (against Munster) but then the positive thing was that after half-time we sort of turned it around and got the result in the end. So we're looking to really come out strong."

The Leinster side also sees Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose reunited in midfield for a mouthwatering match-up with Stuart McCloskey and in-form Darren Cave, while Jonathan Sexton has to settle for a place on the Leinster bench.

Connacht face Munster this weekend and the men from Galway have rested Irish Internationals Ultan Dillane, Kieran Marmion and Bundee Aki.

.@Farrell_C93, Marshall and @ConorOliver return to @MunsterRugby team #SUAF https://t.co/lgCJy13koY pic.twitter.com/GzdPGC2qpX

- Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) January 5, 2018

Meanwhile for Munster, CJ Stander captains the side as Chris Farrell returns from injury to start while Conor Murray returns at scrum-half after being rested for their loss to Ulster.

SCOTLAND

Stuart Hogg this week revealed he should be back in action for Glasgow Warriors in the next couple of weeks.

But there is less good news for Gregor Townsend this week coming out of Scotstoun.

Both Zander Fargerson and Scott Cummings have sustained injuries and will be missing for up to eight weeks but Adam Ashe makes his first start since October.

Thanks for all the messages today. Been a long time coming and I can't wait to pull on the ??? tomorrow night. Big game for @EdinburghRugby and I'm buzzing to be part of it

- Mark Stewart Bennett (@MarkSBBennett) January 4, 2018

Mark Bennett is also back, the centre will make his his eagerly anticipated Edinburgh debut against Southern Kings at Myreside.

The 20-times capped Scotland international centre makes his first appearance for the club since joining in the summer, having fully recovered from a knee injury suffered in last year's Championship.

"He's had two full training weeks, he was desperate to play [against Glasgow] but I felt it wasn't quite right that he did that," said Richard Cockerill.

"He's been training well, he's been training fully. We've been very specific about his rehabilitation.

"He'll start because he's ready to start - also he gets a full training week with us preparing to play. However long he lasts, he lasts. If that's 40 minutes, it's 40; if that's 60, great; if that's 80, we'll see. I'll manage him on how good the game is and the weather conditions and all those other things.

"We've just got to get him out there. The season's halfway through, so we've got to get him up to speed as soon as we can."

WALES

Wales have been hit by the news that both George North and Hallam Amos face a race against time to be fit for the start of the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations.

But Alex Cuthbert makes his competitive return this weekend for Cardiff Blues when they take on the Ospreys.

The winger, a British & Irish Lion back in 2013, injured himself on Wales duty this autumn but returns this weekend - as does Gethin Jenkins after the prop sustained a facial injury on Boxing Day.

On the tighthead side, Samson Lee is back for Scarlets just in the nick of time.

Lee has not appeared for the region since October, missing Wales' entire autumn campaign, while a pectoral injury rules out Leigh Halfpenny.

"Samson's return is good news," said Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac.

"The medical teams have put a plan in place for Samson and he has worked tirelessly at getting himself right.

"He is feeling stronger and can push off both legs with an even amount of power.

"He has also done a lot of work on his conditioning so has a noticeably different body shape than six weeks ago and is getting around the field better in training."

FRANCE

Clermont's mounting injury list means that Morgan Parra has been rested this weekend ahead of their crunch European double header.

But in better news for Jacques Brunel and Les Bleus, flanker Yacouba Camara looks to be back fully fit and raring to go for Montpellier.

De retour encore plus motivé @MHR_officiel ?? pic.twitter.com/6yPJLwkvdg

- Camara Yacouba (@yaccamara) January 3, 2018

The France international has not featured for his club side since injury ankle ligaments back in October that ruled him out of France's autumn campaign.

But this weekend he will return for his side's Top 14 clash against Stade Francais, eager to prove himself in time for the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations.

ITALY

Conor O'Shea will be keeping a close eye on Edoardo Padovani this weekend when Zebre host Glasgow Warriors.

The Italy international has returned from Toulon and makes his first start back in the Guinness PRO14.

Zebre also welcome back winger Giovanbattista Venditti after the injury he sustained before Christmas against Gloucester.

Benetton welcome the Cheetahs to Treviso and skipper Dean Budd is set to make his 100^th appearance for the side.