Injury-hit England received some encouraging fitness news on Wednesday with Simon Shaw's coach at club side Wasps predicting the second row could be fit to face Argentina on November 14.
The experienced 36-year-old lock was omitted from the England Test squad announced on Monday following a foot injury sustained during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
However, Wasps hope to have Shaw back in action this weekend.
And should he come through that match and the game against London Irish a week later, Wasps coach Tony Hanks believes England, who start their international season against Australia on November 7, must pick him to face the Pumas at Twickenham.
"Simon should be back for Leeds, if he comes through this week. He's been working hard and looks ready to go," Hanks said Wednesday.
"England will be looking at him. He hasn't played since the Lions and they say you're only as good as your last game, so he's in a nice spot at the moment," Hanks added.
"That was a while back though and Simon himself feels he needs to get some rugby under his belt. Seeing him back in an England jersey would be great.
"With most players you'd say two games wouldn't be enough, but Simon Shaw is not a normal player.
"If he comes through the next two weeks feeling like he's ready, then you put him in because he'll be ready."
Meanwhile England released three more players - Mike Tindall (Gloucester), David Barnes (Bath) and Joe Worsley (Wasps) on Wednesday from their 32-man squad to play for their clubs this weekend.
England manager Martin Johnson had previously agreed to let Leicester forwards Richard Blaze and Ben Kay, as well as Harlequins wing David Strettle and London Irish back-row Steffon Armitage play in the Premiership this weekend.
Copyright 2009 AFP Global Edition
