Shaping up as in back-row
player has to add to his stalwart service to his country. But Evans is back and firing for the Scarlets and looks to be the man most likely.
At hooker, the ball-carrying Ryan Elias has started the season strongly and could be understudy to Ken Owens for both region and country, with Scott Baldwin an experienced alternative on hand.
Tomas Francis started for Exeter at the weekend in their victory over London Irish. With Samson Lee having hit the ground running, another close tighthead battle lies ahead, with the all-Scarlets option maybe just nudging Lee ahead. Likeliest option: Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Samson Lee figured in nine successive Tests on three Lions tours. What a legend.
So once again, it is likely to be AWJ plus one for Wales in the second row.
There are plenty of contenders, with fellow Osprey Bradley Davies over his knee issue, Luke Charteris in towering early season form for Bath, Jake Ball such a physical presence with the Scarlets and Cory Hill taking on increasing responsibility as Dragons skipper.
This is going to be interesting, with Charteris maybe just having his nose in front, looking to have benefited from his summer off, given his display against Saracens at the weekend. Likeliest option: Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones Thomas Young is sidelined with a torn calf and Nic Cudd will miss pretty much the entire campaign due to knee ligament damage.
And now it’s emerged that Sam Warburton has joined the casualty list.
So, Wales have a vacancy on the blindside.
Dan Lydiate could come back into the equation as he makes his return this weekend from a lengthy lay-off, while Aaron Shingler went well there in the summer Tests after an outstanding season and Ollie Cracknell has started the new campaign in fine fettle.
It’s a tough one to call at No.6, but the 60-cap Lydiate has been a tried and tested part of the set-up over the years and if he can get back to his old destructive self, then he may well be the frontrunner.
As for No 8, well just two words, Taulupe Faletau. He made Zinzan Brooke eat his words on the Lions tour and has just kicked straight on again for Bath. Likeliest option: Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau