Preview: Sale v Worcester
Worcester fly-half Shane Drahm returns to the Warriors' starting line-up as coach Mike Ruddock makes two changes for the Guinness Premiership clash with Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park on Friday.
Worcester fly-half Shane Drahm returns to the Warriors' starting line-up as coach Mike Ruddock makes two changes for the Guinness Premiership clash with Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park on Friday.
Drahm is handed the number ten jersey with Samoan international Loki Crichton ruled out through injury.
Ruddock also makes a change in the back row with Tom Wood replacing Drew Hickey.
Centre Dale Rasmussen is declared fit to face the Sharks and take his place in the starting line-up. But Darren Morris misses out with a stinger injury.
New Zealand wing Rico Gear failed a fitness test on a hamstring injury and his place in the starting line-up is taken by Marcel Garvey.
Fly half James Brown is also ruled out with a disc problem and his position on the replacements bench is taken by Joe Carlisle. Chris Pennell moves up to the bench.
Meanwhile, Sale coach Philippe Saint Andre has named lock Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe to captain the Sharks against Worcester.
“This is a big game for both clubs,” said Saint Andre.
“We need to keep up our challenge for a play-off place and Worcester need the win to pull away from the relegation area.
“We will respect Worcester as they are a far better side than their league placing shows.
“I have only made a few changes this week in an effort to give members of the squad some quality game time, but we wanted to keep the momentum going after last week's win at Leicester.
“However all my players know they need to perform well, every week, as we have other players waiting to take their place in the 22.”
Form: Sale Sharks' only loss in their last ten matches in all competitions since November was 12-20 to London Irish at Madejski Stadium on January 6. The Sharks have won all ten competitive matches at Edgeley Park this season, whilst the last opponents to win there in the Guinness Premiership were Leicester on 6 April 2007. Worcester Warriors picked up a sixth losing bonus point of the season at home to London Irish on Friday but remain in 11th spot in the Guinness Premiership table, six points ahead of fellow strugglers Leeds Carnegie. Sale won 34-15 when the two clubs met in the Guinness Premiership at Sixways in November, but the Warriors won on their last visit to Edgeley Park, 18-12, last March.
Sale Sharks: 15 Mark Cueto, 14 Rory Lamont, 13 Chris Bell, 12 Lee Thomas, 11 Oriol Ripol, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Sililo Martens, 8 Sebastien Chabal, 7 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Chris Jones, 5 Brent Cockbain, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe (c), 3 Stuart Turner, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Andrew Sheridan,
Replacements:16 Neil Briggs, 17 Eifion Roberts, 18 Dean Schofield, 19 Magnus Lund, 20 Richard Wigglesworth, 21 Elvis Seveali'I, 22 Luke McAlister
Worcester Warriors: 15 Thinus Delport, 14 Marcel Garvey, 13 Dale Rasmussen, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Shane Drahm, 9 Matt Powell, 8 Kai Horstmann, 7 Pat Sanderson (c), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Tony Windo
Replacements: 16 Shaun Ruwers, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Will Bowley, 19 Drew Hickey, 20 Ryan Powell, 21 Joe Carlisle, 22 Chris Pennell
Date: Friday, 29 February
Venue: Edgeley Park
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Touch judges: Martin Buck, Paul Dickens
Assessor: Brian Campsall
Television match official: Andrew Turner