Sale v Harlequins: Teams

Sale Sharks will be at full strength when they welcome Harlequins to Edgeley Park on Friday night, in their last game before losing a host of stars to the Six Nations.

Sale have safely booked their place in the last eight of the European Challenge Cup, but must now focus on the Guinness Premiership, where they currently sit in fifth.

Kingsley Jones includes thirteen internationals in his starting XV to face Quins, but that will be reduced dramatically with the Six Nations starting next weekend.

Sebastian Chabal will be remaining with Sale after being left out of the France squad for the Six Nations, and he takes his place at number eight against Quins with Magnus Lund at openside and Scotland captain Jason White at blindside.

In front of them, England duo Chris Schofield and Chris Jones form a formidable second row pairing.

All Black Luke McAlister will wear the number 13 jersey and has Lee Thomas back alongside him at centre after his return from injury.

There are three internationals in Sale's back three combination, with Mark Cueto at full-back and Rory Lamont and Oriol Ripol on the wings.

Harlequins have made five changes to the side that lost against Stade Fraqncais in the Heineken Cup last weekend.

Coach Dean Richards will be looking for his men to get back on track after a dreadful runs which has seen just one win in the last 12 games in all competitions.

Despite this run Quins travel to Sale just two points behind the Sharks and a win would get them right back in touch with the top four in the Premiership.

Four changes have come in the forwards for the visitors, with Ceri Jones, Gary Botha and Mike Ross forming the front row.

Will Skinner is the only other change in the pack, as he comes in to take the place of Paul Volley on the openside flank and also take over the captaincy of the side.

There is just one change to the backs, with David Strettle coming in on the right wing and Tom Williams switching over to the left.

Sale Sharks: 15 Mark Cueto, 14 Rory Lamont, 13 Luke McAlister, 12 Lee Thomas, 11 Oriol Ripol, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Sébastien Chabal, 7 Magnus Lund, 6 Jason White, 5 Dean Schofield, 4 Chris Jones, 3 Stuart Turner, 2 Sébastien Bruno, 1 Andrew Sheridan.

Replacements: 16 Neil Briggs, 17 Eifion Roberts, 18 Sean Cox, 19 Nathan Bonner Evans, 20 Sililo Martens, 21 Chris Bell, 22 Chris Mayor.

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 David Strettle, 13 Hal Luscombe, 12 Tosh Masson, 11 Tom Williams, 10 Adrian Jarvis, 9 Danny Care, 8 Tom Guest, 7 Will Skinner (c), 6 Chris Hala'ufia, 5 Nicolas Spanghero, 4 James Percival, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Ceri Jones.

Replacements: (from) Ricky Nebbett, Aston Croall, Tani Fuga, John Brooks, George Robson, Ollie Kohn, Paul Volley, Phil Davies, Andy Gomarsall, Ugo Monye, De Wet Barry, Simon Keogh.