Brad Barritt was a doubt yesterday for England’s clash with France on Saturday as centre continues to provide head coach Stuart Lancaster with the most challenging conundrum in selection.

Barritt is struggling with a tight calf and may miss the trip to Paris in the second of two World Cup warm-up matches against Les Bleus, who were toppled 19-14 at Twickenham last weekend.

Lancaster names his team this evening and will recall a raft of first-team regulars such as Dan Cole, George Ford and Mike Brown, but the make-up of the midfield is yet to be decided.

The performances of debutants Sam Burgess and Henry Slade against France have increased the options and ideally they would start in Paris, but Lancaster is mindful of the need to offer Luther Burrell and Billy Twelvetrees the chance to advance their claims to a place in the World Cup squad and give game time to Jonathan Joseph and Barritt, if fit.

Barritt, who Lancaster described as “not definitely” available for Saturday, and Joseph are the only certainties to make the World Cup with Burrell, Twelvetrees, Burgess and Slade fighting it out for the remaining two available spots.

“It would be nice to have a few more warm-up games before we make the decision but we don’t,” Lancaster said.