Sale Sharks looking to bounce back to winning ways against Northampton Saints

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Out-of-form Sale Sharks welcome play-off hopefuls Northampton Saints to the AJ Bell in the Gallagher Premiership.

After finishing in the play-offs for the first time since their Premiership triumph in 2006, Sale were expected to push on and challenge for the title this season.

However, after winning two of their seven league matches so far, Alex Sanderson’s side find themselves in 10th place, seven points adrift of the top four.

Back-to-back away defeats against Leicester Tigers and Worcester Warriors leave Sharks vulnerable to a third successive loss which would be the first time they have lost three Premiership matches in a row since September 2018.

Despite their winless away record, Sale have won two of their three home matches. Last time out on home soil, Raffi Quirke inspired Sharks to a 28-22 victory over Harlequins, as the reigning champions saw their unbeaten start come to an end.

Northampton travel to the AJ Bell having made a positive start to the campaign. Chris Boyd’s men have won four of their six matches which sees them sit fourth in the table.

The Saints began the season with three wins from three but have only won once from their last three matches after defeats to Wasps and Leicester.

Last time out, Northampton were heavily defeated 55-26 by table-toppers Tigers at Franklins Gardens as the Saints became the only side in Premiership history to score over 50 points one week and concede over 50 the next.

Sharks’ Akker van der Merwe has made his way back to the starting line-up. An injury has ruled the South African out since he scored a try in Sale’s opening day win over Bath but he’ll be a welcomed return.

There is also an AJ Bell return for AJ MacGinty who starts at fly-half. The Eagles international suffered a knee injury in the closing seconds of Sharks’ final regular match last season before a shoulder injury sustained against London Irish kept him out until last weekend.

Northampton will hand Karl Wilkins his Saints debut. The flanker, who is a product of the Saints Academy, re-joined his boyhood club over the summer from French ProD2 side AS Beziers Herault.

Courtnall Skosan, who has been nominated for the Gallagher Premiership Player of the Month, will start on the wing as he aims to add to his five tries in just two Northampton appearances.

Due to the Autumn Nations Series taking place this weekend, both sides are without plenty of first-team players.

Tom Curry [Sale], Manu Tuilagi [Sale], Courtney Lawes [Northampton], Alex Mitchell [Northampton] and George Furbank [Northampton] have all been named in England’s squad to face Tonga on Saturday. Sale’s Raffi Quirke is also with England, however injury has ruled him out.

Saints will also be without Nick Auterac [Scotland], Dan Biggar and Fijian trio Sam Matavesi, Api Ratuniyarawa and Frank Lomani whilst the hosts will be missing Lood de Jager [South Africa] and Ewan Ashman [Scotland].

Saturday’s contest sees two in-form fly-half’s go head-to-head. Northampton Saints’ James Grayson has landed each of his 12 place kick attempts in the Premiership this season, the most of any player yet to miss a kick, whilst Sale Sharks’ MacGinty ranks second having scored six from six.

Sharks have won the last four league meetings with Saints at the AJ Bell. Northampton’s last Premiership victory away to Sale was back in March 2017 when they comfortably defeated their opponents 32-12.

In the two fixtures last season, both teams won on home soil. Sharks claimed a 32-23 victory in the first meeting before falling to a narrow 17-14 defeat at the Gardens.

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