Sale v Saracens: Teams

Sale Sharks director of rugby Kingsley Jones has kept faith in the starting XV that saw off Worcester for Friday's rearranged clash against Saracens.

Sharks enjoyed a 17-3 victory over the Warriors last week, marking their second Guinness Premiership win in three games.

Jones' men, who sit 10th in the standings, are looking to maintain their good form to ease relegation fears.

Reality check

"We need a reality check after last week's win because if Leeds and Worcester win at the weekend and we don't, we will be back where we were a week ago," said Jones.

"We need to keep our fear of relegation, but if we repeat the attitude and desire we showed against Worcester we could enjoy the run in to the end of the season.

"We are going into the last four games at 100%. I have used squad rotation this season but from here on in, every game is a must-win game."

Jones is wary of the threat Saracens will bring to Edgeley Park, and is anticipating a tough encounter.

"We must respect Saracens, they are a big tough side and it will be a big challenge for us," he added.

"They have a good kicking game but, over the last couple of weeks, have broadened their game with a try fest against Newcastle and a narrow defeat at Gloucester."

The only changes to Jones' 23 are on the bench, where Carl Fearns replaces Mahonri Schwalger and Dwayne Peel steps in for Chris Leck.

Meanwhile, Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter has made several changes to the side that were edged out 29-28 at Gloucester last weekend.

Derick Hougaard and Justin Marshall have been named as the half-back pairing, while Glen Jackson and Neil de Kock drop to the bench.

The rest of the backline remains unaltered, while in the forwards Matias Aguero comes into the front row in place of Rhys Gill, who is out with a pectoral muscle injury.

Tom Ryder and Hugh Vyvyan start in the second row, with Justin Melck at blind side flank and Jacques Burger on the bench after missing part of training this week due to illness.

Kameli Ratuvou makes his comeback as a replacement after missing Sarries' last two matches with a hand injury picked up in the LV= Cup semi-final against Northampton Saints.

Disappointing

Saracens have only secured one victory from their last six matches in all competitions with a 58-15 home win against Newcastle Falcons, and have not won a Guinness Premiership road match since their trip to Bath on October 31.

"With just four regular season matches remaining, we really are at the stage of the season where everything counts. Sale had a terrific win over Worcester Warriors last week and that would have really lifted them and we are expecting a very tough game," said Venter.

"But we have been playing some good rugby that has seen us score 10 tries in our last two games and although we were disappointed with the result at Gloucester, we were very pleased with the performance. But we know that we will need to be even better if we are to get the result we want on Friday night."

Sale: 15 Marika Vakacegu, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Lee Thomas, 11 Ben Cohen, 10 Charlie Hodgson (capt), 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 1 Eifion Roberts, 2 Neil Briggs, 3 Jack Forster, 4 Chris Jones, 5 Dean Schofield, 6 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 David Seymour, 8 Kristian Ormsby.
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Gavin Kerr, 18 Rob O'Donnell, 19 Sean Cox, 20 Carl Fearns, 21 Dwayne Peel, 22 Jonny Kennedy, 23 Dafydd James.

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Michael Tagicakibau, 13 Adam Powell, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Derick Hougaard, 9 Justin Marshall, 1 Matias Aguero, 2 Schalk Brits, 3 Petrus du Plessis, 4 Hugh Vyvyan, 5 Tom Ryder, 6 Justin Melck, 7 Andy Saull, 8 Ernst Joubert (capt).
Replacements:16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Kas Lealamanua, 18 Richard Skuse, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Jacques Burger, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Glen Jackson, 23 Kameli Ratuvou.