Ahead of Saturday's URC clash away to Zebre, Edinburgh have given an update on their walking wounded, which includes no less than 16 injured players.
England lock Ollie Chessum will return to Leicester Tigers' starting XV on Sunday as his side host Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership.
England captain Maro Itoje will return to captain a Saracens side containing four of his international team-mates during the Guinness Six Nations when they host Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday.
Last week’s post-Christmas block of fixtures took us beyond the halfway point in this season’s Gallagher Premiership and a number of the round nine results have certainly whetted the appetite as English ruby welcomes in the new year.
It was the French who caught the eye in round one with six of their eight teams winning, including Stade Rochelais and Toulon away from home.
Glasgow Warriors full-back Ollie Smith is poised to bring his year-long spell on the sidelines to an end on Saturday after receiving a call-up to the Emerging Scotland squad to face Italy at Edinburgh's Hive Stadium.
Edinburgh lock Rob Carmichael has been selected in Gregor Townsend's 31-man Emerging Scotland squad that will play for the first time against Italy U23 on Saturday at Edinburgh's Hive Stadium.
Round six of the Gallagher Premiership promises to deliver another thrilling weekend of action, with teams looking to solidify their positions ahead of a break before the Test rugby returns in November.
Scotland wing Darcy Graham is set to make his return to action this weekend after eight months out.
Eddie Jones has named an England A side that will be skippered by Lewis Ludlow, one of eleven uncapped players included in the XV.
