WALES and England sre set to kick off the 2011 Six Nations in the Championship's first Friday night curtain-raiser.

The old rivals will clash at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Friday, February 4, next year.

Controversial Friday night fixtures were introduced to the tournament in 2009 but this will be the first time that the Six Nations has not started on a Saturday.

France hosted Wales in the Six Nations' first Friday fixture last year before the reverse game in Cardiff this year.

The full fixture list for the 2011 tournament is due to be announced at midday today.

The Six Nations' organisers will confirm Wales are to play in their third Friday night game in successive seasons.

Warren Gatland's men have not enjoyed the Friday night experience so far, losing 21-16 in Paris in February 2009 before a 26-20 defeat at the Millennium Stadium this year.