Vickery is a cornerstone of the England pack

England prop Phil Vickery faces a race against time to prove his fitness for the RBS Six Nations Championship opener against France a week on Saturday.

The Gloucester captain has missed his club's last two games with a back problem and is currently unable to train.

He will undergo an X-ray to determine whether he has suffered disc damage.

"I am in pieces with it at the moment," Vickery said. "The back has not been good for a while because of stiffness.

"But during the team run before the Powergen Cup match with Saracens the weekend before last I stumbled off balance and that was it, game over.

"I have had bangs before but nothing serious. I am having an X-ray today and seeing a specialist tomorrow to make sure it is not a disc problem."

If he is not right he should not be playing for his country Gloucester coach Nigel Melville

Vickery's injury compounds the problems England manager Clive Woodward faces over his front row options.

Vickery's likely replacement, Bristol tighthead Julian White, is doubtful for the match as he awaits the results of a scan on his injured knee.

Vickery's Gloucester team-mate Trevor Woodman and Saracens' David Flatman are already sidelined through injury.

Should Vickery and White both fail to make it, Jason Leonard may win his 100th England cap on the tighthead, with Leicester's Graham Rowntree already recalled from the A squad to cover the loosehead side.

Vickery did not even travel to see his team-mates beat Saracens in the Premiership on Sunday because the journey would have been too painful.

White is also a major doubt

"I am not able to train let alone play - but these things can settle down as quickly as they flare up," he added.

"I have not done anything for nine or ten days now, though, and it is a worry."

Gloucester director of rugby Nigel Melville believes Vickery should not even be considered for the France game if he cannot turn out for his club against Bath this weekend.

"A reputation like his is not easily gained but certainly easily lost and if he is not right he should not be playing for his country," said Melville.

"He is doubtful for the weekend but we hope it settles down and he can play."

	:	England
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