Time running out for Wood

Ireland captain Keith Wood is fighting a losing battle in his fitness bid for Sunday week's Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship opener against Wales.

Harlequins team manager Mike Scott says it is "unlikely" that Wood will line up for Quins when they tackle Premiership opponents Northampton tomorrow.

The Lions hooker hasn't played since suffering a calf muscle injury during Quins' Powergen Cup victory at Sale on December 15.

His planned comeback was postponed last weekend and now it appears to be on hold once again, effectively ruling him out of the Wales game.

"If Keith plays on Saturday, then we will be able to consider him," said Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan. "If he doesn't, then it is unlikely we will consider him.

"He won't have played any games for six weeks, and his target was to have played in the cup match for Harlequins against Leicester last Saturday."

Quins, anxious to halt a run of five successive Premiership defeats, should have England wing Dan Luger available though, after a hamstring problem sidelined him for the Leicester clash.

"If we don't play with the same intensity that we showed against Leicester in the Northampton game, then I will be very surprised and disappointed," said Quins coach John Kingston.

Quins toppled the Tigers 22-20, but they can expect few favours from a Northampton side that has started to click since New Zealander Wayne Smith's arrival as coach.

Saints are without the injured Matt Dawson, Dom Malone, Andrew Blowers and Andy Rennick, while lock Jon Phillips serves a one-match ban after collecting three yellow cards, yet they will go into the game in good heart following cup wins against Cardiff and Saracens.

Former Springboks lock Johan Ackermann is set to make his first start in Northampton colours as replacement for Phillips.

Wasps, meanwhile, can put daylight between themselves and bottom club Leeds by beating Newcastle at Kingston Park on Sunday, but Lawrence Dallaglio's anticipated return will be put on hold.

Dallaglio, out since undergoing knee reconstruction surgery last summer, is now targeting Wasps' Loftus Road clash against Bristol on February 10.