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Sale Sharks can move into the play-off places tomorrow night if they defeat second placed Saracens under the AJ Bell lights.
After a strong start to the New Year, which has seen Alex Sanderson’s Sharks defeated only twice in 10 Premiership matches, Sale sit two points off the top four.
A third placed finish ended in heartbreak last season, as Exeter Chiefs oversaw their north west opponents 40-30 at Sandy Park. However, despite the darkened clouds of a semi-final loss, a Sale rainbow shone in the Devon sky.
Over recent years Sharks have been building a team to compete with the big boys.
A strong South African influence – which contains World Cup winners Lood de Jager and Faf de Klerk – mixed with international stars such as Tom Curry and AJ MacGinty, led many to believe Sale would be challenging for the title.
A win tomorrow night at the AJ Bell would be enough to take Sanderson’s side into the play-off places and put pressure on the fellow chasers, especially Exeter who have a rest this weekend.
On home soil, Sale have been almost unstoppable. Chiefs are the only team to leave the AJ Bell victorious in the league this season. Sanderson’s men will be hoping their positive form in Salford continues, as they aim to pick up yet another bonus point win – as they done against table toppers Leicester Tigers and third placed Harlequins.
Mark McCall’s Saracens travel to a ground they have not won at in their last four attempts. On their return to the top flight, after a title winning season in the Championship, the London side sit comfortably in the top four.
Sarries sit 12 points behind leaders Leicester, but 13 points ahead of Sale in fifth. Saracens have only suffered one defeat in their last six league matches, which came in a highly entertaining 32-30 battle against London Irish.
In the reverse meeting between the two, Saracens claimed victory against their former assistant coach. Sanderson, who was at Sarries for their four titles, could only watch on as his 14-men Sale were beaten 25-14 at the StoneX Stadium.
After trailing 13-0 at the interval, Byron McGuigan was shown red for a dangerous body-slam tackle which left Sharks with too much work. Sean Maitland and Max Malins crossed for Saracens in the second-half, as well as Ben Curry and Raffi Quirke for Sale.
Friday night under the lights ?
? @Manutuilagi set for his return for @SaleSharksRugby
⚫? 3️⃣ changes for @Saracens from Round 21Who will be victorious live on @btsportrugby? ?#SALvSAR Preview >> https://t.co/aMzpmWVuKL#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/ANZNIu9D3Z
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) March 31, 2022
Sanderson has made one change to the starting line-up which drew 24-24 against Bath in the Premiership last time out. Cobus Wiese will start his first league match since the beginning of the month in place of Jean-Luc du Preez in the second row.
Faf de Klerk, who missed a match winning penalty in the closing seconds at the Rec, is part of an unchanged backline. Akker van der Merwe, who has been absent since November with an ankle injury returns to the bench along with: Nick Schonert, Manu Tuilagi and Raffi Quirke.
The visitors have made three player changes and numerous position switches. Eroni Mawi, Tim Swinson and Sean Maitland start in place of Richard Barrington, Jackson Wray and Owen Farrell.
Maro Itoje starts at flanker, Alex Goode at fly-half whilst Elliot Daly converts to fullback. Owen Farrell, who made his first appearance since November in Saracens’ 27-23 win over Bristol Bears last Saturday, will sit tomorrow night’s match out after suffering a setback in his injury recovery.
The last time Saracens were victorious at the AJ Bell was in February 2018. Ben Spencer, who was born close to Sale’s former stadium in Stockport, scored eight points in a 13-3 victory.
However since, Sale have won the last three encounters in which they have scored 24+ points in all. The other meeting between the sides finished in a 15-15 draw.With only three Premiership matches left after tomorrow night’s fixture, a defeat against Saracens could be defining in Sharks’ play-off push.
With Exeter, Gloucester, Northampton Saints and London Irish still in the mix, Sale must ensure they are winning matches themselves.
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