Johnny Sexton is on course to start Saturday ’ s Six Nations clash with Wales , a match that Warren Gatland is delighted to see Wayne Barnes officiate . As Sexton and his hamstrings were coming through Ireland training unscathed , Wales coach Gatland was naming an unchanged team for the Millennium Stadium encounter and giving his seal of approval to English referee Barnes , an official with whom Wales ‘ have a good rapport ’ . Barnes was called in to take charge of the match after Steve Walsh was ruled out and Gatland said Wales were delighted to have the Englishman on the whistle . Johnny Sexton begins running as he recovers from a hamstring injury sustrained against England . The Irish fly half is no longer a doubt for Saturday 's trip to Cardiff as he returned to a training programme . ‘ We have had him before , he is a referee we have got a good rapport with , ’ said Gatland . ‘ The players get on well with him and we are really looking forward to him taking control of the game . I am looking forward to meeting him on Friday just to get his thoughts on the Six Nations so far and things that he is looking for from us. ’ Sexton remains on course to start in Cardiff , according to assistant coach Richie Murphy . ‘ He didn ’ t do any contact but took part in full training . He ran all the plays , did all the defensive stuff and was running at 100 per cent . ‘ He ’ s really happy where he is at . We ’ re expecting him to be fit at the weekend . Ireland 's Johnny Sexton has won his battle to be fit to face Wales in the RBS 6 Nations on Saturday . ‘ He ’ s a really important part of the package , ’ added Murphy . ‘ His direction and leadership are massive , those decisions he makes on the run . ‘ We ’ re really happy he will be fit to play at the weekend , but I suppose the back-up is the whole squad doesn ’ t rely on just Johnny. ’ Murphy also confirmed Jamie Heaslip is good to go , stating the No 8 took a full part in Tuesday ’ s training after recovering from the three vertebrae fractured against France , while the assistant also clarified Monday ’ s concussion return-to-play protocol confusion surrounding Sean O ’ Brien and Jared Payne , who suffered bangs against England . Sean O'Brien ( right ) makes a tackle in the win over England , but is not yet back in contact training . Jared Payne ( left ) is also still out of full training , but should return to contact later in the week . ‘ They can be cleared within six days if they ’ re playing the following week , but that process can take longer if you don ’ t need them . ‘ Both have finished their return to play protocols and did contact training . An eye will be kept on them over the next 24 hours but both are fit and healthy and look like they ’ re ready to play. ’ It means Joe Schmidt will deal from a full deck on Thursday when unveiling his team .
Ireland second half has suffered his hamstring injury . mark Sexton missed first game against hearts and limped off vs England . But Racing ##ton star returned to training ahead of Saturday 's injury .