GEORGE North is set to keep his spot on the Wales wing for Friday’s Six Nations clash with Ireland in Cardiff but he has been warned to up his game.

The Northampton powerhouse started the tournament in fine fashion against Italy but, after missing the loss to England because of a leg injury sustained in Rome, was off colour in the defeat against Scotland.

North went on the run just three times in Edinburgh and was exposed in defence for Tim Visser’s match-clinching score.

The 24-year-old is under pressure for his place from Scarlets prospect Steff Evans while is has been suggested that teenage Ospreys speedster Keelan Giles should be called up after missing out on the squad because of a hamstring injury.

However, North is set to remain in the 14 jersey for the Irish with defence coach Shaun Edwards demanding an improvement from the winger, who has scored 28 tries in 67 Wales appearances.

“If he is selected, I expect George to certainly be on his mettle,” said Edwards.

“I also think that George had a very good game against Italy, in very, very difficult circumstances. He got a really bad bang on his leg and toughed it out well.

“He wasn’t at his best against Scotland but I think great players, who’ve done great things for you in the past, sometimes deserve a warning.”

Edwards was full of praise for North’s defensive improvement ahead of the clash with the Scots but admitted they have been weak out wide in the past two games.

“When it comes to conceding tries, we’ve have conceded tries on our edge, usually our right edge (England’s Elliot Daly and Visser) and one on the left side (Tommy Seymour),” he said.

“They were individual mistakes because players didn’t do what they practised in the build-up to the game.

“They decided to do what they wanted and not what the rest of their team-mates expected them to do.”

Wales name their team tomorrow with ex Newport Gwent Dragons forwards Taulupe Faletau and Luke Charteris pushing hard for starting berths after coming off the bench at Murrayfield.

However, head coach Rob Howley is unlikely to make mass changes despite their title hopes being over, with in-form Ospreys fly-half Sam Davies looking set to be a replacement again.

“Every game (is important), particularly Six Nations’ games against Ireland, great rivals of ours, we will be picking our best team to win this game,” said Edwards.

“Obviously World Cup rankings are a part of that as well, but it is a Test match against Ireland so bring it on,” he said.

“Sam’s been very useful for us. We know he is a very creative player. He is pretty much a regular in the 23 now and he has come off the bench and added a lot of creativity, there is no doubt about that.

“I keep going back to the same thing - sometimes your best players are on the bench because it is all about that last 25 minutes.

“It has been proven time and time again, games are won and lost in the last 20 minutes. What do England call them? Finishers? I like that, it pretty good terminology for what is a 23-man game now.”

If Wales are to take the spoils then they will need to subdue the Irish half-back combo of Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray.

“I have a lot of time for Johnny Sexton. He has been one of the greatest fly-halves of the last 10 years, there is no doubt about it, and he still is,” said Edwards.

“I’ve got huge respect for him and Comor Murray, two world-class players who are used to playing together, which is very important. We are fully aware of the threat Johnny brings, and we have to negate that.

“In recent outings against Ireland we’ve done okay against them, but we know that each game brings a different challenge.

“You are never going to make a great player have a poor game, you just don’t want them to have an outstanding game.”