There are just 90 days to go until the Rugby World Cup gets underway in Japan.
For a number of players, the clock is ticking and they are running out of time as they look to prove their fitness.
Some are still out injured, some are playing catch up after long lay-offs.
Rugby correspondent Simon Thomas casts his eye over the walking wounded and assesses their chances of making the global tournament.
Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
The Bath No 8 has played just one game of rugby since October due to twice breaking his arm.
He had been hoping to get a match in before the end of the season, but that wasn’t to be.
And when he spoke about his situation last month, it cast worrying doubt over whether he would make the World Cup.
He said his arm was not right yet and that there was a lot of hard work to be done.
“If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen,” he said.
All Welsh fans will be hoping the Lions back rower comes through in time because he is a genuine world class performer.
David Pocock (Australia)
Wallabies back rower Pocock tore his calf in January and has struggled to make a full recovery, with the injury limiting him to just three games for the Brumbies this season.
He has had multiple injections to try and resolve what specialists are calling a rare condition.
Last month, he said he might never play again, but Wallaby coach Michael Cheika has now delivered a more optimistic update, saying the 31-year-old could return during the Rugby Championship this summer.
Jack Nowell (England)
The Exeter winger damaged his right ankle in last month’s Premiership final against Saracens, a game in which he was arguably the best player on view.
He was in tears coming off the pitch and left Twickenham on crutches, undergoing surgery earlier this week.
It’s understood he could take as long as three months to recover, which would see him miss all four of England’s warm-up matches.
However, Exeter coach Rob Baxter says he sees “no reason why it should jeopardise him being involved at the World Cup”.
Nehe Milner-Skudder (New Zealand)
He was one of the stars of the 2015 tournament and was named the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year.
But, sadly, it looks as though the Hurricanes winger is losing his battle to make this World Cup in Japan.
He’s had to undergo another operation on the troublesome shoulder which has plagued him for the last couple of years.
His domestic season is over as a result, which means he has probably played his final match on New Zealand soil, with a move to Toulon lined up for next year.
Mako Vunipola (England)
The Lions Test prop had surgery on a significant hamstring tear last month and is facing a race to be fit for Japan.
He is expected to recover in time, but it’s telling there’s talk of fellow loosehead Joe Marler coming out of international retirement to provide experienced cover in Eddie Jones’ training squad.
Fraser Brown (Scotland)
There was major concern when the Glasgow hooker went down with a nasty looking injury during last month’s PRO14 final against Leinster.
He’s undergone surgery to two of his toes and is now on crutches.
The 42-cap front rower could well miss all of Scotland’s warm-up Tests against France and Georgia, but coach Gregor Townsend is confident he will be ready in time for Japan.
Aaron Shingler (Wales)
It’s now more than a year since the Scarlets flanker played a game of rugby.
The serious cruciate knee ligament damage he suffered in the 2018 Guinness PRO14 final required major surgery and kept him out for the whole of last season.
But Warren Gatland has shown how much he values the athletic back rower by naming him in his World Cup training squad and the hope is he will be able to make his long-awaited return during the series of warm-up matches against England and Ireland.
Dylan Hartley (England)
The former England captain hasn’t played since December due to a persistent knee issue and is still undergoing rehab.
He is hopeful of being fit and available for the warm-up games in August, but it looks as though he’s run out of time.
He hasn’t been named in the wider 48-man squad and his only chance of making the World Cup would appear to be if a hooking replacement is required.
Leonardo Ghiraldini (Italy)
One of the most experienced internationals in the game, with 104 caps under his belt.
The World Cup would have been a fitting international swansong for the 34-year-old Toulouse hooker.
But the ruptured knee ligaments he suffered in the final Six Nations game against France in March consigned him to a likely six month lay-off.
The maths tell you he’s going to be cutting it pretty fine to be fit for September.
Waisake Naholo (New Zealand)
A knee injury sustained in training in early April kept the Highlanders winger out for six weeks.
He has just returned to action and will now have to make up for lost time, with so much competition for back three places in the New Zealand squad.
Ellis Jenkins (Wales)
It was such a cruel blow for the Cardiff Blues back rower to suffer a devastating knee injury in the final seconds of Wales’ win over South Africa in November - a game in which he had produced a Man of the Match display.
It left him needing surgery, it ended his season and it meant he was really up against it to be fit for the World Cup.
He hasn’t been included in Wales’ training squad, but could yet be considered if he’s back in time.
George Kruis (England)
The Sarcens second row is currently continuing his rehabilitation from an ankle operation.
He is targeting a return to action in August and should be available for selection for Japan.
Duncan Taylor (Scotland)
It’s two years to the week since the Saracens centre last played Test rugby.
He ruptured both his anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments last September, ruling him out for the season.
But he’s been named in Scotland’s training squad and is set to get an opportunity to prove his fitness in the warm-up matches against France and Georgia.
Owen Lane (Wales)
Twice before, the uncapped winger has been ruled out of contention for Wales selection by untimely injuries.
So when he picked up a hamstring problem just ahead of the training squad announcement in April, one wondered whether it was going to be a case of third time unlucky.
But he was named in the group and will be fine for the warm-up games.
Morgan Parra (France)
The 71-times capped scrum-half has been left out of France’s 37-man squad after sustaining an ankle injury playing for Clermont Auvergne last month.
It seems as though his World Cup hopes have been dashed.
Will Addison (Ireland)
Made a big impression with Ulster last season following his arrival from Sale and was called up for his Test debut in November.
With his ability to cover centre, wing and full-back, he could well have been an ideal utility man for the World Cup.
But he has had to undergone back surgery, which means he too is in a race against time.
He wasn’t selected in Ireland’s training squad, but could be drafted in if he proves his fitness.
Thomas Young (Wales)
As with Ellis Jenkins, Wales have said Young may be considered at a later stage this summer depending on his recovery from injury.
He damaged his foot/ankle while training with Wasps in April and wasn’t included in the preliminary World Cup group.
The expectation was he would be fit by July, but clearly there is huge competition for back-row spots.
