Wednesday 30 September 2015 07:25, UK
Italy will have to wait before deciding to risk Sergio Parisse for their crucial World Cup clash with Ireland on Sunday.
Captain and linchpin Parisse, who has been struggling with a calf haematoma, finally joined Italy's camp this week and jumped straight into training on Tuesday.
But the 32-year-old Stade Francais No 8 must still pass two more fitness tests before being cleared for their showdown with the Irish at the Olympic Stadium.
"He hasn't been training for three weeks and will now be trying to play a massive match on Sunday," said Italy's team doctor Vincenzo Ieracitano.
You can see they raise the game with him in the side
"He's happy to be here and confident he will be able to play. He has been continuing the physiotherapy he was undergoing in Paris.
"This afternoon he will have physiotherapy to get him over his journey from Paris, and then he will join in training in the gym and on the pitch. Tomorrow he will definitely train with the rest of the squad, then on Thursday he will go through a fitness test in the gym.
"And if that goes well we will see how he gets on in training and then we will have another check to see if he can play."
While Parisse is refusing to give up hope of being fit to face Ireland, Italy's vice captain is now a huge doubt for this weekend.
Hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini is expected to be available to face Romania on October 11, but may well not recover from hip trouble in time to take on Ireland.
Joe Schmidt's Ireland side can secure their place in the quarter-finals with victory this weekend, and would then target beating France to top Pool D.
"Leonardo suffered a slight pull of the hip flexor in his right leg," said Ieracitano. "The cryotherapy treatment has helped a lot with his recovery and we will check on him again on Thursday.
"It is not likely that he will be back on Sunday but he is almost certain to be back for the match afterwards."
Ireland for their part fully expect Parisse to start, with hooker Sean Cronin preparing for "an even bigger threat" thanks to the presence of the classy player.
"He's absolutely huge for them," said the Leinster hooker. "I'm sure he's going to give them a huge lift.
"You can see they raise their game with him in the side. So we know them very well, and with him on board we know they're going to be an even bigger threat.
"He's their go-to man in a lot of areas in their play. His kick-off return, his kick-chase and his dominance in the air, they are all aspects of a number eight's game that aren't usually to the level that he has."
