Gallagher Premiership’s top two go head to head in crunch match

Sale Sharks welcome league leader’s Saracens to the AJ Bell Stadium as they try and cut the 11-point gap to the five-time champions.

Sunday’s 3pm kick-off is set to be cracker with the seated area in the AJ Bell sold out.

A win for the home side could see them cut the gap to the London leaders to six points but a win for last season’s runner ups could put them 16 points clear.

Last time out the Manchester side lost narrowly to Exeter Chiefs 24-22 while Saracens extended their lead at the top with a bonus point away victory over Newcastle Falcons.

This loss for Sale was their fourth loss in a row in all competitions leading to big points difference between the sides.

Saracens themselves have lost two in their last four matches in all competitions meaning both sides will be looking to start a late season run.

Alex Sanderson has made just one change ahead of this massive game with Sam James coming into the side for George Ford who is away on England duty.

This means South African Rob Du Preez moves back into his favoured fly-half position as he seeks to win the Gilbert Golden Boot.

The 29-year-old is leading the points table this season with 159 points and will be hoping to keep us his form from the tee this weekend.

Winger and former Fylde Rugby player Tom Roebuck will make his 50th appearance for the club when he takes the field this weekend.

22-year-old lock forward Alex Groves will make his Premiership debut if he comes off the bench this weekend after signing from Bristol Bears on a long-term contract with the Sharks in February.

The away side are missing a lot of internationals as they are away in Six Nation camps including captain Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Ben Earl, Jamie George and Mako Vunipola.

Despite this Director of Rugby Mark McCall still names a strong side to make the trip up north with Internationals including Nick Isiekwe, Billy Vunipola, Nick Tompkins and Sean Maitland.

One man who has a massive task ahead in Manchester is Theo Dan who is starting his second consecutive start at hooker for the league leaders.

The 22-year-old has been excelling in Jamie George’s absence during the Six Nations period but Sunday will be his toughest task against Ewan Ashman who has already represented Scotland in his short career to date.

The visitors came out on top the last time these two sides faced each other at the StoneX Stadium in late October.

The 33-22 win for Sarries was a close affair with the result still in the balance late on and neutrals will be hoping for something similar this weekend as the season’s end draws closer.

Lineups:

Sale Sharks: 1. Bevan Rodd 2. Ewan Ashman 3. Coenie Oosthuizen 4. Cobus Weise 5. Jonny Hill 6. Jono Ross© 7. Sam Dugdale 8. Jean-Luc Du Preez 9. Gus Warr 10. Rob Du Preez 11. Tom O’Flaherty 12. Ryan Mills 13. Sam James 14. Tom Roebuck 15. Joe Carpenter

Replacements: 16. Tommy Taylor 17. Simon McIntyre 18. Nick Schonert 19. Alex Groves 20. Josh Beaumont 21. Raffi Quirke 22. Luke James 23. Arron Reed

Saracens: 1. Eroni Mawi 2. Theo Dan 3. Alec Clarey 4. Nick Isiekwe 5. Hugh Tizard 6. Tom Ellis 7. Andy Christie 8. Billy Vunipola 9. Aled Davies 10. Manu Vunipola 11. Alex Lewington 12. Nick Tompkins 13. Alex Lozowski 14. Sean Maitland 15. Alex Goode

Replacements: 16. Kapeli Pifeleti 17. Robin Hislop 18. Eduardo Bello 19. Cameron Boon 20. Toby Knight 21. Ivan Van Zyl 22. Olly Hartley 23. Rotimi Segun

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