WALES' hooker problems have eased - that was the optimistic bulletin coming out of the training camp this morning.

All three hookers - Mefin Davies, Robin McBryde and Steve Jones have been injured and doubts surfaced over the weekend whether any of them would be fit for the fourth leg of Wales' Grand Slam and Triple Crown bid.

But the medical staff are optimistic McBryde and Jones will be fit for Wales' trip north to face Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday, though there is still a doubt about Davies.

He suffered a fracture to the top of a thumb against France nine days ago but the injury was kept quiet at the request of his new club Gloucester in their build-up to Powergen Cup semi-final against Bath yesterday.

McBryde injured a knee against France while Jones strained a hamstring playing for the Newport Gwent Dragons against Ulster the week before.

"Robin's chances are pretty good, he's ready to join in training without contact now and it's looking promising for the weekend," said Wales physiotherapist Mark Davies.

"Steve's hamstring strain was slow to resolve, but I am optimistic he will be fit.

"We had to respect confidentiality about Mefin and he remains in doubt, though he does have a chance."

Dragons scrum half Gareth Cooper is another injury victim after damaging an ankle playing for the Northern Hemisphere in Saturday's Tsunami Aid match at Twickenham.

Davies said that the injury was not straight forward, that he was being assessed today and the outcome would be known in the next 24 hours.

Dragons threequarter Hal Luscombe, who missed the France game with a hamstring injury, and Rhys Williams, who has had a calf strain, will both have to take part in full training early this week if they are to be considered for selection, while there is an outside chance that Sonny Parker will make it after missing the championship with a neck injury.

"I am anticipating that Hal and Rhys will both come through, and Sonny will take part in training this week," said Davies.

He revealed that Wales captain Gareth Thomas will be in plaster for six weeks recovering from his injured thumb which he broke in four places against France.