Leicester were today waiting to discover whether their injured England captain Martin Johnson faces another enforced weekend off and an inevitably delayed Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship entry.

England's World Cup leader was due to train with the Leicester development squad last night, having been sidelined since mid-December because of an Achilles problem.

If there is no adverse reaction, and both player and club medical staff are satisfied, then Johnson could make the Leicester squad probably as a substitute for tomorrow's Tetley's Bitter Cup fifth round tie at London Irish.

England coach Clive Woodward, having put Northampton scrum-half Matt Dawson on stand-by as prospective Six Nations skipper, plans to name a 26-man squad later today, 24 hours later than originally planned.

That eagerly-awaited announcement was postponed yesterday, although it is not known whether Woodward's late decision was influenced by the Johnson situation.

England tackle Ireland at Twickenham tomorrow week, but Leicester and British Lions leader Johnson must still be rated extremely doubtful, having last played on December 12.

The Tigers, five times cup winners, received a bye into this weekend's action courtesy of their league champions status, and they are slowly recapturing that title-winning form.

Premiership victories against Bath, Harlequins, Saracens and Wasps since Christmas have hurled them into second place, despite manager Dean Richards claiming pre-World Cup that a successful championship defence was not possible.

Leicester's cup pedigree is unquestioned, having reached ten finals as the second-most prolific side in English knockout rugby behind Bath.

But Irish will prove tough opponents, especially given an added spur of this season's cup winners qualifying automatically for Europe next term, irrespective where they finish in the league.

A potentially lucrative Heineken Cup place should lift Irish, together with the five clubs immediately below them, fellow fifth round survivors Harlequins, Bristol, Wasps, Sale and Newcastle.

"A European Cup place for the domestic cup winners is an added bonus," said Irish rugby director Dick Best.

"It provides all the clubs involved in this weekend's matches with a great incentive to secure a quarter-final place."

Leicester will travel south without wings Leon Lloyd and Geordan Murphy, who were both casualties of an impressive midweek triumph at Wasps.

England World Cup squad member Lloyd suffered a knee cartilage injury that could require surgery, while Irish prospect Murphy hurt his shoulder colliding with an advertising hoarding after scoring Tigers' winning try.

Another attractive all-first division encounter pits Saracens against Northampton at Vicarage Road.

Saracens, with French fly-half Thierry Lacroix in prime goalkicking form, strolled past high-flying Gloucester three days ago, a performance which thrilled their England back-row forward Tony Diprose.

"We came back with a bang after losing heavily at Leicester last weekend, but Northampton are going to be just as tough as Gloucester were," he said.

"They are enjoying a really successful run at the moment, and find themselves going for all three big trophies, a position that I wish we were still in.

"Being knocked out of Europe was a major disappointment, but beating Gloucester provided our Premiership challenge with a huge boost, and we would love to reach another cup final after beating Wasps at Twickenham in 1998."

Gloucester, knocked off Premiership top spot by Northampton less than 48 hours ago, welcome second division strugglers Orrell to Kingsholm.

The Lancastrians, one of the toughest cup nuts to crack in Dewi Morris' days, have lost 13 league matches this term, and despite some experienced faces like Rob Hitchmough, Ian Wynn and Chas Cusani still featuring, can expect a difficult day.

Gloucester, fourth round conquerors of Bath, will be without injured fly-half Simon Mannix, while his possible replacement Welsh international Byron Hayward is currently serving a two match club suspension, but coach Philippe Saint-Andre can ring changes and still feel confident.

Premiership Two rivals London Welsh and Coventry, currently level on league points, meet for the first time in cup combat since 1985, while second division colleagues Manchester are favourites at home against Jewson League One opponents Birmingham/Solihull.

Sunday's action features a repeat of the 1999 cup final, when Wasps host Newcastle at Loftus Road looking to repeat their 29-19 Twickenham triumph.

Wasps fly-half Alex King, a cup final try-scorer, recalls the day with affection.

"It was great for the team to win the final, especially after losing against Saracens a year previously," he said.

"But both ourselves and Newcastle have moved on a lot since then, and we won't be looking back this weekend, just forward to a tough game."

Also on Sunday, Bristol entertain Sale and North Two minnows Darlington Mowden Park visit Harlequins in true David and Goliath fashion.