Tuesday 25 October 2016 16:05, UK
Wales are hopeful British and Irish Lions wing George North will be able to prove his fitness for Northampton this weekend.
North forms part of an extensive Wales injury list ahead of their opening autumn international against Australia in Cardiff on November 5.
Scarlets trio Liam Williams, Jake Ball and Scott Williams are also doubts for the game which represents Rob Howley's return in charge, with head coach Warren Gatland on Lions leave ahead of next summer's tour of New Zealand.
North damaged a hand during Saints' European Champions Cup defeat to Castres last weekend, but the Wales management have been told he could feature in Northampton's Aviva Premiership clash with Gloucester on Friday.
"We're in dialogue with the Saints and he [North] is working hard to be fit for the weekend," said Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde.
Full-back Williams (ankle) and lock forward Ball (rib) both picked up injuries in the Scarlets' Champions Cup defeat at Saracens on Saturday.
Centre Williams withdrew ahead of that game with an ankle problem.
"Liam hasn't been ruled out of the Australia match yet. We're working hard with the medics to see how he reacts to that," McBryde added.
"The same goes for Jake with his rib injury. It's pretty sore and it's quite hard to determine how long they're going to take. The same can be said for Scott but he's back running and training."
Taulupe Faletau definitely misses the Australia game with a knee injury, but Wales are confident the Bath No 8 will play some part in an autumn series which also features games against Argentina, Japan and South Africa.
Meanwhile, McBryde has welcomed Premiership Rugby's decision to release players for international matches on November 5.
The Premiership do not usually release non-English players for matches outside the official World Rugby international window, but on Monday they agreed to do so for the weekend of November 4-6, describing the one-off move as a "gesture of flexibility".
England-based quintet North, Jamie Roberts, Luke Charteris, Ross Moriarty and Tomas Francis are all now available for the Australia game and will join up with the squad on Monday.
McBryde said: "It's a positive. It's great news for us because that means we can have a week's good preparation with players who will hopefully be involved in that first game.
"It also highlights that players are in the worst position, the tug of war that exists between international and club rugby, but anything to make a players' life any easier [is good].
"Everyone is aware we play a load of rugby and we have got one of the smallest playing bases.
"We've got to look after what we have and do that better than other countries who perhaps have got quite a bit of depth."
McBryde also confirmed some players would be released back to the Welsh regions this weekend.
Watch Ospreys v Dragons (2.45pm) and Leinster v Connacht (5pm) in the Guinness PRO12 on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 2.
