Scotland and France this morning announced their Six Nations training squads for the upcoming matches with Italy and Wales respectively.
With slight injury doubts hanging over the two camps, both coaches have opted to name 24-man squads which will be narrowed to 22 next week.
For Scotland, there has been a recall for Wasps wing Kenny Logan while veteran scrum-half, Andy Nicol, has been dropped. Edinburgh duo Nathan Hines and Craig Smith and Glasgow's Graeme Beveridge all return to the national fold.
Logan, who has not played for his country since last season's meeting with Italy, will have unpleasant memories of Scotland's last visit to the Eternal City when the Scots slumped to an historic defeat.
However, the ex-Stirling County wing today preferred to look forward, saying: "I'm pleased to be back in the squad, but for me there's a lot more to be done."
French number nine Fabien Galthie has been included in Bernard Laporte’s squad and will regain the captaincy from Olivier Magne. Magne will not travel to Wales after receiving a three-week ban yesterday for stamping on Italy’s Dennis Dalan at the weekend. He will be replaced by Imanol Harinordoquy of Pau.
Galthie missed the somewhat underwhelming defeat of Italy with a knee injury but expects to be fit for Cardiff. With injuries to a number of first choice players in the back line, Laporte has called up Montferrand's Jimmy Marlu and Pierre Mignoni of Beziers.
Backs
: Andrew Henderson (Glasgow), Graham Beveridge (Glasgow), Duncan Hodge (Edinburgh), Brendan Laney (Edinburgh), Kenny Logan (London Wasps), James McLaren (Glasgow), Glenn Metcalfe (Glasgow), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Bryan Redpath (Sale Sharks), Gregor Townsend (Castres).
Forwards: Gordon Bulloch (Glasgow), George Graham (Newcastle), Stuart Grimes (Newcastle), Nathan Hines (Edinburgh), Martin Leslie (Edinburgh), Scott Murray (Saracens), Jon Petrie (Glasgow), Budge Pountney (Northampton, captain), Robbie Russell (Saracens), Craig Smith (Edinburgh), Tom Smith (Northampton), Mattie Stewart (Northampton), Simon Taylor (Edinburgh), Jason White (Glasgow).
Forwards
: Jean-Jacques Crenca (Agen), Pieter De Villiers (Stade Francais), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Narbonne), Raphael Ibanez (Castres), Yannick Bru (Stade Toulousain), David Auradou (Stade Frangais), Olivier Brouzet (Northampton), Fabien Pelous (Stade Toulousain), Thibault Privat (Beziers), Steven Hall (Beziers), Serge Betsen (Biarritz), Elvis Vermeulen (Montferrand), Imanol Harinordoquy (Pau).
Backs: Fabien Galthie (Stade Francais, captain), Pierre Mignoni (Beziers), Frederic Michalak (Stade Toulousain), Gerald Merceron (Montferrand), Frangois Gelez (Agen), Damien Traille (Pau), Tony Marsh (Montferrand), Aurelien Rougerie (Montferrand), Jimmy Marlu (Montferrand), Nicolas Brusque (Biarritz), Xavier Garbajosa (Stade Toulousain).
