With the small matter of Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 qualification now put to bed after the victories by Italy and Wales a fortnight ago, attention returns to the battle to lift the Women's Six Nations trophy.

England are the only side still harbouring Grand Slam dreams after a huge defensive effort by Wales ended France's unbeaten start to the Championship and they will be next to face a Welsh side full of confidence and eager to record a first win in the rivalry on English soil.

France are still smarting after that loss to Wales and Scotland could find themselves in for a difficult evening on Friday with Les Bleues eager to keep themselves in the title mix ahead of their final round battle with England. Scotland are unquestionably showing great improvement in 2016 under coach Shade Munro, but it would be a massive upset if they end their six-year losing run in the Championship against the side their last victory came against.

Defending champions Ireland have faltered after defeats by France and England on the road and will hope a return to Donnybrook sees them back to winning ways, although an Italian side that have had the burden of qualifying for a first Women's Rugby World Cup since 2002 lifted from their shoulders will be no pushover and will fancy their chances of a second victory in the 2016 Championship. 

This weekend could see a few changes to the World Rugby Women's Rankings with second place again at stake for England and France, while upsets for lower-ranked sides Italy and Scotland also have the potential to spark movement.

SCOTLAND v FRANCE (Friday, 18:00 at Broadwood Stadium)

In brief

  • France were the last team to lose to Scotland in the Women's Six Nations, going down 10-8 at Lasswade in February 2010
  • Scotland have now lost their last 32 matches in the Championship
  • France have not lost two matches in a row in the same season since 2006
  • Scotland duo Lisa Robertson and Helen Nelson could feature for the first time in this year's Championship if they come off the bench in Cumbernauld
  • France have made six changes to their starting line-up after the loss to Wales, including a new half-back pairing in Laure Sansus and Camille Imart

Rankings predictor

With 10 places and almost 20 rating points separating the two sides, a victory for France will have no impact on the rankings – unless England slump to defeat against Wales, in which case Les Bleues would regain the second place they lost to the Red Roses a fortnight ago. Scotland's only hope of climbing from 13th place is a win by more than 15 points, a scenario which would lift them above South Africa. 

ENGLAND V WALES (Saturday, 18:05 at Twickenham Stoop)

In brief

  • By winning their first three matches, England have made their best start to a Women's Six Nations since they won the Grand Slam in 2012
  • Wales won the meeting between the sides in Swansea last year, only their second win in 32 encounters with England
  • England's only loss in 10 previous internationals at the Twickenham Stoop was to New Zealand in the Women's Rugby World Cup 2010 final
  • England reshuffle their forward pack with Tamara Taylor coming into the second row for her 89th cap – helping the starting XV boast more than 550 caps between them – and Abbie Scott shifting into the back row
  • Wales had stuck with the starting XV that beat France last time out, but illness ruled number eight Sioned Harries out on Friday morning and so Alisha Butchers will take her place. 

Rankings predictor

Like France, England cannot improve their rating with victory over 10th ranked Wales. Defeat, though, will see the world champions surrender their unbeaten record and drop below a victorious French side. However, they can slide no lower than third, the place they occupied when the World Rugby Women's Rankings were introduced on 1 February. Wales, boosted by victory over France in round three, can climb as high as eighth– potentially to just four hundredths behind Australia in seventh – with victory, although an Italian triumph in Ireland would restrict their climb. 

IRELAND V ITALY (Sunday, 13:00 at Donnybrook)

The match will be streamed live by Irish Rugby at www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_eQeL5BkRw

In brief

  • Ireland have not lost three matches in a row in the same Women's Six Nations season since 2007
  • Italy won their first ever meeting with Ireland back in 1997 but have lost all 12 encounters since
  • Italy secured qualification for Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 by beating Scotland in Bologna a week ago
  • Ireland captain Niamh Briggs is the leading point-scorer in the Championship with 26 points after three rounds, but switches to centre as coach Tom Tierney opts for debutants Kim Flood and Liz Burke in a new back-three alongside sevens returnee Alison Miller
  • Italy full-back Manuela Furlan will win her 50th cap, seven years on from her debut against England

Rankings predictor

Defending champions Ireland will be desperate to return to winning ways after defeats to France and England and they could climb to a new high of third place if they win and France suffer a heavy loss in Scotland. A defeat by any margin at Donnybrook, though, would see them drop two places below Canada and USA to sixth. Italy can climb one to eighth with victory, but could fall a place if they lose and Wales upset England. There is no danger of Italy sliding any lower than 10th because even an emphatic defeat by Ireland would still leave them 7.72 rating points above Samoa.

The World Rugby Women’s Rankings update every Monday at 12:00 UK time.