Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards has refused to reveal whether captain Sam Warburton will return from injury for Saturday's Six Nations opener against Italy.

The Cardiff Blues flanker has been out of action since November due to a shoulder problem.

"His return date is pretty imminent, whether it is this week or next week," Sky Sports News quotes Edwards as saying.

"Sam is one of those players who is so fit that he can come straight back into a game and potentially play without a warm-up game, but having a warm-up game is another option as well."

Wales begin the defence of their Six Nations title against Italy in Cardiff.