It’s been dubbed the battle of the last men standing as the start of the Six Nations Championship edges ever closer.
The launch of the tournament this week was seemingly dominated by those not playing as much as those who are.
A galaxy of stars will be absent for the start of the European extravaganza and those set to miss the entire tournament looks to hit unprecedented levels.
A gruelling three-Test series with the All Blacks last summer has taken its toll on some of the leading lights in Britain and Ireland while a full-on Aviva Premiership, autumn series and Champions Cup campaign has accounted for others.
England have seen 16 players ruled out of the start of their title defence, a number that will climb to 18 if Chris Robshaw and Mike Brown fail to recover.
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The wave of injuries that has thinned the champions’ ranks is mirrored by similar problems encountered by their rivals with the news breaking today that Rhys Webb is the latest Welshman to be ruled out of the Championship.
With coaches sweating on daily medical bulletins ahead of the start of the Six Nations and we give you the big names players set to miss part if not all the tournament.....
ENGLAND
Kyle Sinckler - The prop star for the Lions last summer flew home from Harlequins' Champions Cup clash with La Rochelle last weekend without playing in France and then jetted home from the Red Rose training camp in Portugal after his hamstring problem was scanned.
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Billy Vunipola - The No.8 colossus was only two games back from a four-month lay-off with a knee injury when he fractured him arm for Saracens in the 15-15 draw with the Ospreys in the Champions Cup and will miss the entire Six Nations.
Elliot Daly - The Lions threequarter is also out of the entire tournament after sustaining a serious ankle injury playing for Wasps against La Rochelle last month.
Mike Brown - The Harlequins full-back, who has played 64 times for his country, is suffering from blurred vision and doubtful for the start of the tournament.
Chris Robshaw - The former Red Rose skipper is also a major doubt for the Italy opener with a back problem.
Semesa Rokoduguni - The Bath wing is poised to miss a chunk of the Six Nations as he recovers from surgery on a shoulder injury.
Nathan Hughes - The Wasps No.8, who filled in for Billy Vunipola with aplomb last season, is out for at least the first three games of the tournament with a serious knee injury picked up against La Rochelle last month.
IRELAND
Sean O’Brien – The injury-prone and controversial star of the Lions tour to New Zealand last summer is expected to be back in action some time in the Six Nations though no date has been set after hip surgery.
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Garry Ringrose - The rising star of Irish rugby sustained an ankle injury in Leinster's PRO14 derby with Ulster and is set to sit out at least the opening two weeks of the Six Nations.
Jamie Heaslip – The No.8 hasn't been seen on a rugby pitch since March 2017 and no time frame has been set for a return to action after sustaining a serious back injury.
Jared Payne – The Lions tourist has yet to play this season having suffered a succession of migraine headaches since last summer's trip to New Zealand.
Tommy Bowe - The former Ospreys wing and double Lions tourist recently announced he will retire at the end of the season after another injury-ravaged camapign. A shoulder problem sustained against Leinster this term has ruled the 33-year-old out of the Six Nations.
SCOTLAND
WP Nel – The renowned scrummager broke his arm at the start of December which has ruled the tighthead out for 12 weeks, putting him in doubt to play any part in the tournament.
Ross Ford – The veteran hooker is adding to Scotland's front-row woes being out since last November after suffering a pectoral injury before the autumn internationals.
Fraser Brown – The hooker has been sidelined after suffering from a number of concussions and though his condition is being reviewed regularly, no return to work date has been set.
FRANCE
Morgan Parra – Knee injury suffered against the Ospreys last week may rule him out of France’s opening fixtures with Ireland and Scotland.
Camille Lopez - The French No.10 broke his ankle back in October and is not due back until April.
Wesley Fofana - The back division playmaker was diagnosed with a herniated disc at the end of December, ruling him out for three months.
WALES
Jonathan Davies – Foot injury suffered in the autumn international defeat against Australia will keep the Scarlets and Lions centre out of the tournament.
Jake Ball - The Scarlets second row required surgery after dislocating his shoulder in Wales' defeat to New Zealand last November. It's hoped he'll return before the end of the season but will miss the Six Nations.
Rhys Priestland – Picked up a hamstring injury against the Scarlets earlier in January seems likely to keep him out of the entire tournament.
Sam Warburton – The Lions skipper hasn't played this season and will miss the Six Nations as he recovers from a knee operation.
Dan Lydiate – Out for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury in last autumn’s win over South Africa.
Taulupe Faletau – Named in the squad though he could miss at least the opening three games as he works his way back to fitness from a knee injury.
Dan Biggar – The fly-half is set to miss at least the first three games a shoulder injury suffered in the Ospreys’ game against Clermont Auvergne last weekend.
Liam Williams – The Lions full-back was a late withdrawal for Saracens before their Champions Cup fixture with Northampton having returned from an abdominal injury the previous week. Facing a possible operation.
Rhys Webb - The latest British and Irish Lion to be ruled out of the Championship. Webb has been released by Wales after injuring his knee and will play no part in the Championship.
ITALY
The good news is Sergio Parisse is fit....