Sale v Bath: Teams

Sale Sharks director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre insists his side can still reach the semi-finals of the EDF Energy Cup - although they can't afford any more slip-ups.

The Sharks came unstuck against Cardiff in their opening game, however with Andrew Sheridan, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Sebastien Chabal all returning to action, Saint-Andre is confident of success.

He told the club's official site: "We welcome back our internationals for this game and it's a game we have to win.

"If we do, we could still qualify for the semi-final stages. I will make my mind up on whether to start with Charlie Hodgson or Lee Thomas at fly-half tomorrow.

"Bath have started the season well and won their opening group game against Leicester Tigers last week.

"We have already played them this season and although we led late in the game we were beaten by a late penalty.

Exciting

"Games against Sale Sharks and Bath are always exciting games to watch and I am sure tomorrow will be no different."

Despite the return of some of their World Cup stars, Sale will be missing Rory Lamont and Mark Cueto.

Lamont has injured his ankle and Cueto picked up a calf strain in training, while captain Dean Schofield and Jason White are also in the treatment room.

In-form Bath will be chasing six straight victories when they head to Edgeley Park on Friday - and Steve Meehan is taking nothing for granted.

The Bath coach has opted to tweak his squad for the trip, with Martin Purdy, Shaun Berne and Michael Stephenson coming into the starting XV.

Purdy will partner captain Steve Borthwick in the second row, Berne returns to the No.10 jersey ahead of Ryan Davis and Stephenson replaces Nick Abendanon at full-back.

Meehan also welcomes Lee Mears back to his squad for the first time this season, with the England hooker named on the bench.

Sale: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Julien Laharrague, 13 Chris Mayor, 12 Chris Bell, 11 Steve Hanley, 10 Charlie Hodgson/Lee Thomas, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 1 Andrew Sheridan, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Stuart Turner, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe (c), 5 Chris Day, 6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Michael Hills, 8 Sebastien Chabal.
Replacements: 16 Sebastien Bruno, 17 Benoit Bourrust, 18 Sean Cox, 19 David Tait, 20 Sililo Martens, 21 Lee Thomas/Charlie Hodgson, 22 Oriol Ripol.

Bath: 15 Michael Stephenson, 14 Matt Banahan, 13 Alex Crockett, 12 Tom Cheeseman, 11 Ian Davey, 10 Shaun Berne, 9 Nick Walshe, 1 David Flatman, 2 Rob Hawkins, 3 Lorne Ward, 4 Steve Borthwick (c), 5 Martin Purdy, 6 Jonny Faamatuainu, 7 James Scaysbrook, 8 Zak Feaunati.
Replacements: 16 Lee Mears, 17 Laurence Ovens, 18 Andy Beattie, 19 Chris Goodman, 20 Mike Baxter, 21 Jack Cuthbert, 22 Nick Abendanon