Tindall removed any lingering doubts about his match fitness with a try-scoring display during Bath Uniteds 36-3 Zurich A League victory over London Irish on Saturday.

The World Cup centre went on as a half-time substitute - and scored just 98 seconds after joining the action.

He has now played more than three hours of rugby on the comeback trail from a serious ankle injury sustained last December.

And that should be enough for England boss Sir Clive Woodward to hand him his first Test match start since the World Cup final triumph against Australia last November.

England, whose Grand Slam hopes were destroyed when Ireland ended their 22-Test unbeaten Twickenham run, have sorely missed Tindalls powerful midfield presence.

The 33 times-capped Yorkshireman offers England direction and structure and his likely recall means that Woodward can switch his most potent attacking weapon - Jason Robinson - from outside centre to wing or full-back.

Bath full-back Iain Balshaw will make way after some below-par RBS 6 Nations displays, although a groin injury suffered during club training last week means that he is unlikely to be fit anyway.

Woodward promised not to over-react following the 19-13 Ireland loss, but at least two further changes can be expected.

Bath lock Danny Grewcock, Woodwards man-of-the-match in the Calcutta Cup victory against Scotland last month, should be back, along with Sale Sharks forward Chris Jones.