Bath v Sale: Teams
Bath are expecting a physical encounter, while Sale are determined to put their Heineken Cup disappointment behind them.
Last Updated: 19/12/08 2:52pm
Bath's defence and skills coach Brad Davis is expecting a physical game from the visiting Sale Sharks on Saturday.
With the likes of Jason White, Sebastien Chabal and Andrew Sheridan in their squad, Sale boast a fearsome pack - something Davis and Bath are only too aware of.
"They have a big pack of forwards and have a great number 10 in Hodgson," said Davis.
"They also have two good nines to use, whether they pick Peel or Wigglesworth. Sale's physicality is something that we are really going to have to be prepared for as we in turn have to look to be dominant.
"It is essential that we be at our best if we want to come away successfully. We can take confidence from our win against Glasgow, but we need to step it up again and keep doing that each week."
Bath have made four changes to the team that beat Glasgow with Alex Crockett, Lee Mears, Peter Short and Jonny Faamatuainu all returning.
Tough
Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint Andre insists his side are determined to put their Heineken Cup disappointment behind them when they return to league action.
The Sharks take on Bath on the back of their shock defeat to Montauban - a result which has damaged their hopes of qualifying from Pool One.
And although Saint Andre knows Bath will not be an easy match, he believes his side can bounce back on their travels.
He said: "This will be a very tough game for us. Bath are a good side, well organised and well coached.
"They like to attack so we will need to be focussed from the kick off. We had a good run beating Wasps, Leicester and Montauban in successive matches before losing to Montauban last week.
"The players are determined to put that defeat behind them."
Jason White and Dwayne Peel both return to the Sale line-up, with Neil Briggs moving back to hooker after playing the last four games as a flanker.
Bath:15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Joe Maddock, 13 Alex Crockett, 12 Eliota Fuimaono, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Daniel Browne, 7 Michael Lipman (c), 6 Jonny Faamatuainu, 5 Peter Short, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Lee Mears, 1 David Barnes.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Dixon, 17 Duncan Bell, 18 Stuart Hooper, 19 Andy Beattie, 20 Scott Bemand, 21 Shontayne Hape, 22 Jack Cuthbert.
Sale Sharks: 15 Mark Cueto, 14 Chris Bell, 13 Andy Tuilagi, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 David Doherty, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Dwayne Peel, 1 Andrew Sheridan, 2 Neil Briggs, 3 Stuart Turner, 4 Sebastien Chabal, 5 Dean Schofield, 6 Jason White, 7 Luke Abraham, 8 JM Fernandez Lobbe.
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Lionel Faure, 18 Brent Cockbain, 19 Carl Fearns, 20 Richard Wigglesworth, 21 Rudi Keil, 22 Mathew Tait.