Warburton expects to be fit to face Italy

Wales captain Sam Warburton is confident of winning his Six Nations fitness battle and featuring in next month's opener against Italy. Warren Gatland's men start their quest for a historic hat-trick of successive Six Nations titles - no side has achieved the feat - in Cardiff on February 1 and Warburton expects to be available as he nears the end of his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him since the end of November. News of Warburton's likely inclusion for the first game of the tournament is a major boost for Gatland, who this week lost the services of experienced flanker Ryan Jones for the opening matches against Italy and Ireland due to a hamstring problem. Centre Jonathan Davies is also likely to miss the first two matches as he recovers from a ruptured pectoral muscle. Openside flanker Warburton is set to discuss his progress with Gatland next week, but sees no reason why he cannot lead his team out at Millennium Stadium against an Italy side that Wales defeated 26-9 last year. "I think I'll be available for selection," said Warburton on Wednesday at the official launch of the Six Nations. "I need to have a chat with (head coach) Warren Gatland and the medics early next week to decide what's the best thing to do, whether that be go back to my club first to play a game." Italy have picked up the wooden spoon nine times in the 14 editions of the Six Nations since the competition was expanded in 2000, but Gatland has demanded a professional performance from his players. His warning comes after Italy stunned France 23-18 in their opening game 12 months ago. The New Zealander said: "That first game is crucial for us. "We've got the three blue teams (Italy, France and Scotland) at home and then two tough ones away with England and Ireland. "It's important that we take it one game at a time and not to look too far past that. And we’ve only got to be reminded what happened last year to France in the opening game against Italy in terms of Italy winning that game. "It's a banana skin for us and hopefully we can get off to a good start and create that confidence and momentum because it's a tournament about momentum. "You also need a bit of luck, whether it's a bounce of a ball or a couple of decisions or not picking up too many injuries. That can go a long way to having a successful campaign."