Andy only Goode for bench

Ollie Smith is in the Leicester team to face Sale, while Andy Goode is named amongst the replacements

Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers

Guinness Premiership, Edgeley Park, Friday November 18, KO 20.00

Premiership leaders Sale are again without their international players as they host Leicester at Edgeley Park.

Charlie Hodgson, Mark Cueto and Andrew Sheridan are all on England duty while Sebastien Chabal has been recalled into the France team.

Head coach Kingsley Jones acknowledges that the absence of several key players makes an already tough assignment ever harder, but says his team is ready for the challenge.

"This is another important game for us and because of international call ups, injuries and a suspension our squad is being tested to the limits," Jones said.

"This is in effect an eight point game against one of the top clubs in the Guinness Premiership and will be a massive challenge for us, but the players are ready and keen to build on the wins against Leeds Tykes and Worcester Warriors."

Leicester Tigers include Ollie Smith for Friday's match, but Andy Goode has only been named amongst the replacements.

The duo were both released from the England squad earlier this week and coach Pat Howard wanted to see both players train before deciding if they should be included in the starting line-up.

Smith has been given the nod to start in centre, but Ross Broadfoot has been handed the fly-half berth in front of Goode, who will have to make do with a seat on the bench.

Howard named his team on Tuesday but was forced to make a change when openside flanker Shane Jennings was ruled out through injury. Will Skinner is drafted in to start in the number seven shirt.

The Tigers coach has placed great importance on the outcome of Friday's clash, and he is hoping to strike a psychological blow to Philippe Saint-Andre's men.

"It's a very important game and it could have a significant impact on the outcome of the season simply because if you think about where possible semi-finals could be played ... this could possibly be one of them.

"If you're a betting man you'd probably say Gloucester, Leicester, Sale or Wasps will host a home semi-final and we've got to know we can go there and put in a good performance. I think we know we can go to Wasps; the question is whether we can go to Sale."

Sale: 15 Daniel Larrechea, 14 Oriol Ripol, 13 Mark Taylor, 12 Robert Todd, 11 Jason Robinson, 10 Valentin Courrent, 9 Sililo Martens, 1 Ben Coutts, 2 Andy Titterrell, 3 Barry Stewart, 4 Chris Day, 5 Dean Schofield, 6 Epi Taione, 7 Magnus Lund, 8 Nathan Bonner Evans.

Replacements From: Neil Briggs, Stuart Turner, Peter Anglesea, David Tait, Richard Wigglesworth, Ben Foden, Chris Mayor and Nick Wakley

Leicester Tigers team: 15-Sam Vesty, 14-Leon Lloyd, 13-Ollie Smith, 12-Dan Hipkiss, 11-Tom Varndell, 10-Ross Broadfoot, 9-Austin Healey (captain), 1-Alex Moreno, 2-George Chuter, 3-Darren Morris, 4-Leo Cullen, 5-Ben Kay, 6-Tom Croft, 7-Will Skinner, 8-Brett Deacon