Eddie Jones to gamble with back-row rookies Maro Itoje, Jack Clifford and Nathan Hughes against Wales

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England may be forced to deploy an alarmingly raw back-row unit against the might of Wales' all-Lions trio in a Cardiff cauldron on Saturday. 

Head coach Eddie Jones is considering fielding Maro Itoje, Jack Clifford and Nathan Hughes — with only four Test back-row starts between them — amid concerns about the fitness of one of his experienced flankers, Tom Wood. 

The Northampton captain missed training with a shoulder problem and the initial indications were that he won't be considered for a starting place. 

Maro Itoje is set to be part of an alarmingly-raw England back-row unit against Wales

Nathan Hughes (left) and Jack Clifford are tipped to complete an inexperienced back-row

Jack Nowell of Exeter is poised to replace Jonny May on the wing, but the main intrigue is up front. In the absence of Billy Vunipola and Chris Robshaw, both of whom are set to miss the entire championship with injuries, the England management have been left with a mounting back-row casualty list.

James Haskell has recovered from toe surgery and made his Test comeback as a replacement in Saturday's victory over France, but Jones insisted he is not ready to start against Wales. 

The head coach suggested that the veteran's game-time would increase gradually throughout the tournament, despite the temptation to pitch him straight back into the starting XV.

With Wood sidelined on Tuesday, Jack Clifford of Harlequins, who has just recovered from a chest injury, occupied the openside flanker place in the first-choice side during training matches.

Eddie Jones has concerns about the fitness of one of his experienced flankers, Tom Wood

Hughes is in line for one of his first starts for England in their second Six Nations clash

He was joined by Teimana Harrison, as Nathan Hughes also missed the afternoon session. The official line is that Wasps No 8 Hughes was having his workload managed, but it is understood that he may in fact have a knee problem.

However, Harrison was released to Northampton on Tuesday night as England retained a squad of 24 ahead of the trip to the Welsh capital. Although Wood will be involved, he is expected to be among the reserves, along with Haskell. Hughes should be cleared to start, which means the visitors will be glaringly inexperienced in a key area of the field.

If the back-row selection of Itoje — who only made the switch from lock last weekend — Clifford and Hughes is confirmed, it will represent a bold statement of faith from Jones in three rookie talents. They will face a daunting task, especially if Taulupe Faletau is passed fit to reclaim his Wales No 8 place alongside Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric.

The three Lions have 147 starting caps between them, 143 more than their likely opposite numbers. As another worrying omen for England, they were an integral part of the Wales team who inflicted a record 30-3 drubbing on their Grand Slam-chasing rivals four years ago.

Jones looks on during the England training session at Pennyhill Park in Bagshot

England forward coach Steve Borthwick speaks with assistant coach Neal Hatley

Exeter centre Henry Slade will remain with England for the rest of this week, but is likely to go to Cardiff as a non-playing reserve. Leicester prop Ellis Genge has not been retained on stand-by, as he was last week, and George Kruis is absent after confirmation that the Saracens lock requires knee surgery.

England were watched in training on Tuesday by national football manager, Gareth Southgate, who addressed the coaching staff at a meeting, along with Australian netball coach, Lisa Alexander. This follows a visit by Jones to the FA's national training centre last May while Roy Hodgson was still England manager.

Jones said: 'We've had a brilliant learning day today with Gareth and Lisa. As we've always stated, our aim is to get better every day and we want to get people into camp who have knowledge and great experience to learn from. The staff shared a very interactive hour with them at a lunchtime meeting where we learnt a lot.'

Jonny May is expected to come out of the side for the trip to face Wales at the Principality

Jack Nowell is in line to replace May in the side as England face a physical battle in Cardiff

Meanwjile, Warburton has labelled England public enemy No 1 as Wales plot to bring down their 15-Test winning run in a 'cauldron-like' atmosphere in Cardiff.

Wales have lost four of their last five Tests against their rivals and Warburton is envious of their success. He said: 'If you're Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France or Italy, the biggest game is England. They really prioritise that match because everyone just wants to beat England.

'I guess that's just due to the success they've had in the past and what they are going through now. It's always a big scalp if you beat England because they're a great team.'

'England are deservedly tagged as the best team in the northern hemisphere. It's a fair judgement to compare them to the All Blacks right now — that's how good they are.'