DEFENCE coach Shaun Edwards says Wales are “very hopeful” that Taulupe Faletau could return to action for their Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on Sunday.

However, ex-rugby league star Edwards reckons it would be a risk to play the former Newport Gwent Dragons ace, who has not had any game time since Christmas Eve.

The number-eight suffered a medial knee ligament injury while playing for Bath in their 40-26 defeat to Wasps on December 24.

It was a recurrence of the same problem he sustained on his Bath debut, an 18-14 win away to Northampton, on the first Saturday of the Aviva Premiership season.

That led to him missing three of Wales’ four autumn internationals, and the injury flaring up again over the festive period has now put his chances of starting the Six Nations in jeopardy.

“We’ve got to wait until Wednesday night to see whether he’s declared fit or not for this weekend,” said Edwards. “Obviously, you want your best players fit and ready.

“We all saw what a fantastic impact he made in the South Africa game, when he came off the bench, so we’re very hopeful he is going to be fit for Sunday.

“But if he’s not fit we’ll have somebody else coming in who will be keen and ready to go, and then hopefully he’ll (Faletau) be fit for England.”

When asked if it would be a risk to pick Faletau for the Italy clash, Edwards added: “Well, obviously, that’s up to Rob (Howley, coach) to decide but my thought would be yes, it probably is.

“Like I said, his impact off the bench, and everyone knows how important bench impact is in world rugby at the moment, was absolutely phenomenal against South Africa.”

Edwards also expressed his disappointment at not being able to work with Dragons wing Ashton Hewitt.

Hewitt, in the senior Wales squad for the first time, hasn’t been able to train because of a head injury picked up in the Dragons’ derby defeat to the Ospreys on New Year’s Day.

Speaking about the new faces in the squad for the Six Nations, Edwards said: “We’ve been doing extra work with them and getting them up to speed with their roles.

“It’s been a little bit of a shame that Ashton hasn’t been able to train.

“I was looking forward to coaching him but unfortunately he hasn’t trained yet.”