Aviva Premiership: Sale Sharks v Worcester Warriors preview

Steve Diamond's eighth-placed team head into the contest having lost two successive league matches, but they will be hoping for a second win of the season against their opponents.

The Warriors are the only side without a league victory although they secured their first win of the season against Cardiff Blues in the Anglo-Welsh Cup before an encouraging display against Leicester Tigers last weekend.

The sides have already met this season at Sixways in the Amlin Challenge Cup when Sharks ran out 29-15 winners but Warriors have been victorious only once on the road in the Premiership since April 2009.

Dwayne Peel and Danny Cipriani have been paired together at half-back for Sale, while James Gaskell, David Seymour and Dan Braid form the back-row.

Marc Jones gets the nod ahead of Tommy Taylor.

First appearance

The Warriors' director of rugby Dean Ryan is set to hand James Stephenson his first appearance in the top-flight after the 23-year-old scored on his debut in the LV= Cup win over Cardiff Blues earlier this month.

Tighthead prop Rob O'Donnell has also earned a Premiership start and the former Sale man will line-up alongside Chris Brooker and Ofa Fainga'anuku in the front-row.

James Percival will start at lock next to Mike Williams, while the back-row sees the return of Argentina international Leonardo Senatore at number eight.

Jonny Arr retains his place at scrum-half alongside Ignacio Mieres, who starts at fly-half while South African Dean Hammond starts on the left wing, with Ravai Fatiaki partnering Alex Grove in midfield.

"The LV= Cup been a real shot in the arm for us," admitted Ryan. "I've been pleased with the attitude, enthusiasm and energy of our youngsters and it's created a nice vibe around the team.

"We've played Sale once this season and they beat us convincingly. We were driven badly and couldn't cope with it so it's a big test for us to see if we have we closed that gap."

Sale Sharks: Miller, Arscott, Addison, Tuitupou, Cueto, Cipriani, Peel; Lewis Roberts, Jones, Thomas, Mills, Paterson, Braid, Seymour, Gaskell

Replacements: Taylor, Harrison, Cobilas, Ostrikov, Easter, Cliff, Macleod, Jennings

Worcester Warriors: Pennell, Stephenson, Grove, Fatiaki, Hammond, Mieres, Arr; Fainga'anuku, Brooker, O'Donnell, Percival, Williams,Thomas, Betty, Senatore

Replacements: Shervington, Becasseau, Andress, Schofield, De Carpentier, Hodgson, Warwick, Matavesi