Mears hit by bicep injury

The Bath forward has not been able to make either of Stuart Lancaster's opening two matchday squads in the competition so far, and may be absent from this weekend's game at Twickenham against the unbeaten Welsh.

Harlequins' Chris Brooker has been called up as cover.

"Lee Mears has got a bit of a bicep hematoma, as they have described it, at the moment," England's interim head coach said.

"He has gone for a scan today so we will wait and see what happens. He has (had) two bicep injuries before so we want to be careful.

"He is still at Bath. We have brought Chris Brooker in from Quins. He arrived this (Monday) morning and will stay with us until tomorrow afternoon."

Gloucester winger Charlie Sharples, who is also yet to feature in the Six Nations, is another doubt for Saturday's game after suffering a dead leg in training.

"Charlie has picked up a dead leg so he won't be training. He has stayed with us. He will probably head home tonight. He won't be fit to train tomorrow, but I am sure he will be fine for Gloucester at the weekend," Lancaster added.

Wales also have injury worries, with World Cup hooker Huw Bennett looking likely to miss the bid for Triple Crown glory against England.

Wales assistant coach Rob Howley has revealed Ospreys forward Bennett, who won his 50th cap in the victory over Ireland earlier this month, is struggling to recover from injury.

But Wales are hopeful other players with knocks, including star wing George North and skipper Sam Warburton, will be fit and available to face their unbeaten Six Nations title rivals.

Former Wales captain Matthew Rees, who missed the World Cup due to a neck problem, is favourite to replace Bennett if he shakes off a calf muscle strain that sidelined him against Ireland and Scotland earlier this month.

"It looks as if Huw Bennett is unlikely to make it." Howley said.

"Richard Hibbard has been brought into the squad, and Matthew Rees will train today. The medics are very hopeful, and we will know more about him in the next 24 hours.

"George North (ankle) seems fine. He has come through rehab well, without doing too much, and we hope he will start on the weekend."

Like Rees, Bennett has calf muscle trouble, and Wales coach Warren Gatland will want to keep changes to a minimum as he assesses his options ahead of Tuesday's scheduled team announcement.

Warburton's back-row return instead of Aaron Shingler, and Rees instead of Bennett could prove to be the only switches as Wales target only a second Twickenham success since 1988.