Dylan Hartley must pass a gruelling “Test simulation” conditioning test in Northampton on Wednesday to prove he is fit to captain England for the Six Nations opener against France.

Hartley is currently serving a six-week ban for striking Leinster flanker Sean O’Brien, after coming off the bench during the second half of Northampton’s Champions Cup defeat on December 9, and will not play again for his club before the French game at Twickenham on Feb 4.

His latest ban, which takes his career total to 60 weeks, will ensure that the Northampton hooker will have played just six minutes of competitive rugby, since England’s victory over Australia at Twickenham on December 3, before the start of the Six Nations.

Hartley has continued to work on his conditioning despite missing a total of six matches for Northampton during his suspension, which expires on January 23.