Flood made his comeback from six weeks out with a knee injury when he played 30 minutes of Leicester’s LV=Cup win over Newcastle and with Charlie Hodgson nursing a bruised shoulder the time could be perfect for Flood to pounce.

But after coming through defeat of the Falcons unscathed the 26-year-old is eager to take it one step at a time.

"The main thing is I am playing now and we will see how it goes,” Flood said.

“I'm feeling fine, I got a whack early on and there was a bit of tension and a few nerves but the body feels good.

"You don't want to get injured at any time, particularly when you are trying to get into your stride for the season.

"But I have had some great rehab here and I've got back a little quicker than I thought.”

With Courtney Lawes (knee), Manu Tuilagi (calf) and Tom Wood (foot) all still out, England’s new contingent will have another chance in Rome to stake their case for keeping their first XV roles.

There will be one change to the matchday squad after scrum-half Lee Dickson fractured a bone in his left hand and will be replaced by his older brother Karl.