WALES will almost certainly face Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Sunday with a change of captain.

The leadership could well revert to openside flanker Martyn Williams because current skipper Colin Charvis is set to miss the match.

Coach Steve Hansen names the team tonight and Charvis is expected to be missing. He was still struggling today after dislocating a finger against Scotland last Saturday.

"It's a matter of whether we risk him and have him struggling for the whole tournament or take a common sense view," said Hansen at the team's Vale of Glamorgan headquarters this morning.

But better news is that key forwards, hooker Robin McBryde and lock Robert Sidoli, came through training yesterday without any ill effects after missing the Scotland game with back and groin injuries, respectively.

McBryde is almost certain to play, though there is a nagging doubt about Sidoli despite yesterday's progress in training because he has hardly played since the World Cup.

Ireland are also expected to be strengthened by the return of Brian O'Driscoll, the world's leading centre who missed the game in France with hamstring trouble.

"Naturally you are going to miss someone who is world class - and Brian is the best there is," said Hansen. "Ireland are a better quality team than Scotland, though there are similarities like their lineout which is also very good.

"They have gone through a great period and though they have lost their last three matches two of them have been to France.

"They are not a spent force by any stretch of the imagination. They'll fancy it against us and we don't mind going in as underdogs.

"Our players realise they have taken only one small step. There's a long way to go but we want them excited, it's better this time than last year.

"A lot more people can understand now what we are trying to achieve and they have more faith in us than a year ago, everyone is being supportive now."

The rugby and soccer teams are sharing the same venue and practice facilities, and Hansen has taken the opportunity to have an exchange of views with Wales football boss Mark Hughes.

"I had a good yarn with Sparky last night, it's essential we have an exchange of ideas," said Hansen.

"It's a different game, but we have the same problems and we are all cut from the same cloth.

"There's only a few million people in Wales and we can't afford to have everyone divided, we need people to be supportive."

l Newport Gwent Dragons and Wales squad centre Hal Luscombe is not as badly injured as initially feared. He had a scan yesterday and the results showed the injury was confined to bruising, though he had been advised to be on crutches to rest the injured knee.

Luscombe now expects to resume training at the end of this week and to be available for the Dragons for their Celtic League game against leaders Ulster at Rodney Parade a week on Saturday.

l Brett Davey, the former Newport Gwent Dragons player, appears before the Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel next Tuesday. Full back Davey, now with Bristol Shoguns, was sent off against Bedford for an alleged stamp.