WALES have not ruled full-back Liam Williams out of their autumn opener against Australia a week on Saturday, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Scarlets ace is in pole position to wear 15 on his back against the Wallabies ahead of Leigh Halfpenny, who is back in the squad for the first time since the serious knee injury he suffered in the final World Cup warm-up match against Italy last season.

However, Williams suffered an injury to his left ankle in his side’s European Champions Cup defeat to Saracens on Saturday and it was reported that he is out for at least two weeks and could potentially miss the entire November campaign, which pits Wales against the Aussies, Argentina, Japan and South Africa.

Wales say that is wide of the mark and that they are still waiting to learn the extent of the damage to Liam Williams and a pair of his Scarlets teammates.

"He hasn't been ruled out yet and we're seeing how he reacts to treatment, same as Jake Ball (ribs) and Scott Williams (ankle)," said forwards coach Robin McBryde.

"Jake is pretty sore, it's hard to determine how long he will take and it's the same with Liam really."

George North suffered a hand injury during Northampton’s defeat to Castres last weekend but could feature for the Saints against Gloucester on Friday.

McBryde says Wales are hoping to have influential number eight Taulupe back for the second half of the series and that they will look for a specialist to deputise.

That will lead to Gloucester’s Ross Moriarty and the Ospreys’ Dan Baker battling it out rather than Sam Warburton or James King filling in.

"It's going to be different (without Faletau) but it's an opportunity for somebody else,” said McBryde.

“We know from recent performances in the red shirt that Ross Moriarty is itching for the opportunity. Dan Baker has been a constant performer for the Ospreys. They deserve first stab at it.”

Wales will decide after training today (WED) whether to release players to their regions for this weekend’s Guinness Pro12 derbies.

Cardiff Blues host the Scarlets on Friday and Newport Gwent Dragons travel to the Ospreys on Saturday.

Dragons wing/full-back Hallam Amos, who started all three Tests in New Zealand last summer, won’t be released while it is highly unlikely his teammate Tyler Morgan, who is back up to the established midfield trio of Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams, will be allowed to feature in Swansea.