Fin Smith to Undergo Fitness Test Before Australia Match

Fin Smith will train with his teammates for the first time on Wednesday and show his physical condition. England's first-choice fly-half has not taken part in national team training since the calf injury he suffered in Northampton's match against Leicester on 24 October. Whether he can wear the shirt in the Nations Championship opening match at Allianz Stadium on Sunday will be determined by this session.

Head coach Steve Borthwick will announce the squad on Friday. England's management is hopeful that Smith will be ready. Smith could be given two full training sessions. If he does not get the green light, George Ford and Harlequins' Marcus Smith will compete for the number ten shirt. One is experienced, and the other stands out on current form.

Smith's Northampton teammate Tommy Freeman said the player is progressing well and working properly with the physiotherapists. Jack van Poortvliet will be the scrum-half.

England have lost Alex Mitchell for the entire campaign. Mitchell was injured in Northampton's 28-14 win over Gloucester, and his scan revealed a hamstring problem, the fourth time this year, which requires weeks of rehabilitation. He will also miss the Australia, Japan and New Zealand tests, as well as the final weekend. Northampton's other centre, Archie McParland, will not play in the Australia match at the least because of a calf problem. Ben Spencer and Harry Randall have therefore been added to the squad.