Maro Itoje© Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Uncapped duo Sam Burgess and Maro Itoje will be included in England's 50-man training squad when it is unveiled at Twickenham on Wednesday.

The pair are set to be joined by returning wingers Chris Ashton and David Strettle in the World Cup longlist but Dave Ewers, Christian Wade and Thomas Waldrom are expected to miss out.

Burgess is likely to be named in the backs suggesting England see him as an alternative to Manu Tuilagi who will miss the World Cup after his assault charge last week. His call-up completes a remarkable whirlwind year after his switch from league to union back in October. He started his life at Bath in the centres but has since been used at blindside. England see him as an inside centre and he is likely to be used there in the camp but his versatility will aid his chances of making the final 31-man squad.

Itoje, 20, is seen as one of England's brightest young prospects. He can cover both the locks and blindside and has enjoyed a breakthrough year which saw him captain the England Under-20s in New Zealand last summer and then went on to start Saracens' Champions Cup quarter-final at blindside for their trip to Clermont. And his impact has been hailed by Saracens team-mate Billy Vunipola.

"Maro's a great player, he's got a lot of fight in him," Vunipola told Press Association Sport. "He's very confident in his own ability and what he can bring to the team.

"He's one of those guys that I think will be a great leader one day, if not now. But anything could happen. I definitely think he's worth a shout - but that's just my opinion, I play with him and I know what he's like and what he's about."

Burgess and Itoje will be joined by fellow uncapped players Henry Slade, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Elliot Daly.

For Ashton and Strettle, they have recently been out of favour but they have been given the nod in the training squad alongside Marland Yarde, Jonny May, Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell.

Top 14-based duo Steffon Armitage and Nick Abendanon will miss out as Stuart Lancaster sticks to his guns on not picking those based overseas unless in 'exceptional circumstances', as RFU policy dictates.