Cardiff Blues flanker Williams has been struggling with a disc problem in his neck but Wales team physiotherapist Mark Davies has delivered an encouraging fitness bulletin just five days before the eagerly-awaited Millennium Stadium showdown.

We are pretty optimistic about Martyn, said Davies.

He has made some good progress, and he will now have a few tests in the next 48 hours and we are pretty optimistic he is getting there.

It has been a bit frustrating, but he is on the mend, Davies added.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock has already lost the services of 75-times capped Newcastle flanker Colin Charvis, who is unlikely to play for at least a month while he recovers from a foot injury.

And with Williams initially thought to be struggling, the signs pointed towards Ruddock handing a first cap to former Wales Under-21 skipper Richie Pugh against England.

The 29-year-old Williams, though, offers considerable experience, and if he is declared fit then Ruddock might be tempted to include him in the back row.

Charvis will be reviewed by the Welsh medical staff next Monday, but Davies admitted that there was only an outside chance of him being fit to face France in Wales' third championship game on February 26.

Wales' other injury concern is Neath-Swansea Ospreys centre Sonny Parker, who has a trapped nerve in his neck.

Sonny's injury is still an issue, Davies said. It is still painful and irritable. We will run the rule of thumb over him in the next couple of days.

Ruddock is due to name his starting line-up for the England game on Tuesday evening as Wales target their first victory in Cardiff over the world champions since 1993.