NEWPORT Gwent Dragons threequarter Hal Luscombe is fighting to be fit for Wales' Six Nations Championship game against France in Paris on Saturday.

Luscombe, a regular in the side under coach Mike Ruddock, suffered a hamstring injury against Italy nine days ago and hasn't trained since.

"He had last week off, but he needs to have a run now and we've got to get him across the park," said Wales backs coach Scott Johnson today.

There is every hope Luscombe will be fit, but Dragons team mate Kevin Morgan is pushing for a place in the side anyway after his form for the region and an impressive display after replacing Luscombe in Rome.

"There is a few knocking on the door, Ceri Sweeney did well, too and in the back row we've got a contest for positions, that's what we want," said Johnson adding tongue in cheek: "We don't want anymore Gwent players in the team!"

But there remains considerable doubt whether Wales centre Sonny Parker will be fit to face the French having missed the first two games already.

"He's taking longer than we expected to recover from his neck injury, he's getting referred pain and he will be looked at this week again," said Johnson.

Both sides have won their first two matches in the championships, but Johnson insists France will start favourites.

"They have to be favourites at home, they haven't dropped any points and they can't see why anyone would make us favourites, we're a little country of 2.9m where as they are 57m," said Johnson.

"It's strange how the world sees France. I see strength in their set piece and we're caught up with the France of the past rather than where they are now.

"But we are confident we can play. We are not going to die wondering how we can play, we won't be out willed and hopefully we won't be outskilled.

"France are notoriously slow starters, they are a world power in rugby and they are underrated at the moment. They have won their first two games so they've done something right."

Wales' French based players, skipper Gareth Thomas and Stephen Jones, both came through their matches unscathed at the weekend, Jones kicking six penalties for Clermont Auvergne.