Sale captain Dean Schofield is relishing his side's Premiership opener against Leicester Tigers on Friday night.
Sale skipper relishing season opener
Newly-appointed Sale Sharks captain Dean Schofield is relishing the "massive challenge" that awaits his side on the opening day of the Guinness Premiership season.
The Sharks kick-off the 2009-10 domestic campaign with a home clash against champions Leicester Tigers on Friday night.
In what has been very much a period of change for the North West club, head coach Kingsley Jones has named Sale stalwart Schofield as captain in place of the departing Juan Fernandez Lobbe.
And the powerful lock exclusively told
skysports.com: "I'm massively looking forward to it.
"Kingsley gave me the heads up at the end of last season so I said I'd be proud to do it and it was good to reflect over the summer and I'm really looking forward to it.
"I'll never change as a player or a person and it's going to be good.
Belief
"I'm quite a straight-talking guy and my first objective is to concentrate on the Leicester game at home and I think it's massively important to us to get off to a good start and we will know where we are as a team and as individual players.
"I never predict winning the European Cup or winning the Premiership because I think as soon as you start looking at that you take your eye off the next job."
A number of high-profile players have left Sale in the close season - Sebastien Chabal, Lobbe, Jason White and Luke McAlister all notable absentees from pre-season training.
However, the signings of internationals Ben Cohen and Sisa Koyamaibole have reignited belief that Sale can go one better than last season and qualify for the play-offs.
And Schofield, 30, admits the opening game against Leicester will be a sound early measure of how the club with fare this season.
"We massively respect Leicester, they're an awesome team, you know they are always gong to be up there at the end of the year in Europe and in the Premiership," he said.
"Obviously we'll go out there to win the game but it's a massive challenge for us."
"The lads are looking good. It's my ninth season now so I'm excited about it, the new lads are looking good, they're looking sharp on the pitch, fitting in a treat and I'm looking forward to seeing them with a Sale shirt on."
