Debut: MacLeod will debut for Sale against his former side
Nick MacLeod will make his Sale Sharks debut against his former club, Cardiff Blues, in Saturday's EDF Energy Cup game at Edgeley Park.
Having signed for Sale in the off-season MacLeod will now make his first appearance for his new club, and will be looking to plot the downfall of his former side.
He will start at full-back in a side that shows several changes from their midweek outing. England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth will play out of position at fly-half as Sale look to rest as many players before the start of the Heineken Cup next week.
There is also a debut for Andy Tuilagi at inside centre, whilst Nick Royle becomes the first ever player from Division One to be loaned to a Premiership side, as he takes his place on the bench.
"We have rested several players this week but we still have seven full internationals in the starting fifteen," Head Coach Kingsley Jones said.
"Cardiff have named a full strength team for the game and it will give all the players we have selected an opportunity to impress and push for a first team place."
Cardiff Blues boss David Young has made six changes, and two positional changes, for the match.
Ben Blair comes in at full-back, having been rested last weekend, with Leigh Halfpenny moving to the wing, after his man of the match display against Connacht. The midfield stays the same with Jamie Robinson, Jamie Roberts and Ceri Sweeney all forming an impressive partnership.
Richie Rees makes his first start of the season at scrum-half having recovered from a back injury, and Martyn Williams returns to the openside having recovered from ankle ligament injury.
Form: Sale Sharks' only defeat at Edgeley Park in their last seven matches was 7-17 to London Irish in the Premiership on 10 May. Sale's only win in their last four EDF Energy Cup encounters was 25-10 over Bath at Stockport in Round 2 last season. Sale have lost three of the last four matches they have played against Welsh opponents. Cardiff Blues have won two of their last three games in the Magners League, but have been defeated in their last two away matches at Ospreys and Munster. The Blues have not lost a game to an English team since the 20-42 reversal at Leicester in the Heineken Cup on 3 November 2007. Cardiff Blues have won twice before on English soil in the EDF Energy Cup: 40-29 at Saracens in October 2006 and 14-6 at Bath in round 3 last season. All three previous encounters between the two sides in all competitions have been won by the home side on the day, including the 32-15 Blues victory at the Arms Park in last year's opening round.
The Teams:
Sale Sharks: 15 Nick MacLeod, 14 Selorm Kuadey, 13 Rudi Keil, 12 Andy Tuilagi, 11 Oriol Ripol, 10 Richard Wigglesworth, 9 Chris Leck, 8 Carl Fearns, 7 David Tait, 6 Jason White (c), 5 Brent Cockbain, 4 Chris Jones, 3 Martin Halsall, 2 Marc Jones, 1 Lionel Faure.
Replacements: 16 Rob O'Donnell, 17 Ross Davies, 18 James Gaskell, 19 Alex Shaw, 20 Johnny Kennedy, 21 Nick Royle, 22 Will Cliff.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Jamie Robinson, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Gareth Thomas, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Mark Lewis, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Andy Powell, 5 Paul Tito (c), 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 T. Rhys Thomas, 1 John Yapp.
Replacements: 16 Gary Powell, 17 Gareth Williams, 18 Deiniol Jones, 19 Robin Sowden-Taylor, 20 Darren Allinson, 21 Nick Robinson, 22 Tom Shanklin.
Date: Saturday 4 October, 2008
Kick-off: 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT)
Venue: Edgeley Park
Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Touch judges: Huw David (Wales), Sean Brickell (Wales)
Television match official: David Hudson (England)
Assessor: Brian Leigh (England)
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