Sale v Leeds: Teams
Leeds have named an unchanged side for their Guinness Premiership match against Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park on Friday.
Last Updated: 16/02/08 1:44pm
Leeds coach Stuart Lancaster has named an unchanged side for their Guinness Premiership match against Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park on Friday.
There are only two changes to the replacements from bottom side Leeds' last game against London Irish at Headingley Carnegie when they picked up a losing bonus point.
Prop Fosi Pala'amo has returned home following a family bereavement so Adam Hopcroft is amongst the replacements whilst second row Kearnan Myall returns after a three month lay off with a shoulder injury and replaces Danny Paul.
Adam Balding, who played for Gloucester last weekend against Leicester, has returned to Headingley Carnegie to conclude his three-month loan spell at the club.
Captain Stuart Hooper is still missing after suffering a shoulder injury against Wasps whilst Colin Noon is ruled out by a neck injury.
Joe Bedford will continue to captain the side in the absence of Hooper whilst Erik Lund is set to take on his younger brother Magnus after being named in the second row.
With Leeds desperate for points to try and close the gap at the foot of the table, Sale also badly need the points to keep-up their hunt for a top four place.
The Sharks are in good form having won five of their last six games in the Premiership, dating back to October.
Edgeley Park has also been a fortress for them this season with Sale enjoying a 100 percent record at home in all competitions so far this campaign.
Sale also enjoy an unbeaten record against Leeds, and Philippe Saint Andre's side will be looking to repeat their 34-20 success at Headingley earlier in the season.
Sale: 15 Mark Cueto, 14 Rory Lamont, 13 Luke McAlister, 12 Lee Thomas, 11 Oriol Ripol, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Richard Wiggleworth, 8 Sébastien Chabal, 7 Magnus Lund, 6 Sean Cox, 5 Dean Schofield (c), 4 Brent Cockbain, 3 Stuart Turner, 2 Sébastien Bruno, 1 Lionel Faure.
Replacements: 16 Neil Briggs, 17 Martin Halsall, 18 Nathan Bonner Evans, 19 Juan Martin Fernández Lobbe, 20 Will Cliff, 21 Julien Laharrague, 22 Chris Bell.
Leeds:15 Leigh Hinton, 14 John Holtby, 13 Jonny Hepworth, 12 Lee Blackett, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Alberto Di Bernardo, 9 Joe Bedford (c), 8 Rhys Oakley, 7 Calum Clark, 6 Jon Dunbar, 5 Pablo Bouza, 4 Erik Lund, 3 Tommy McGee, 2 Vili Ma'asi, 1 Mike MacDonald.
Replacements: 16 Adam Hopcroft, 17 James Parkes, 18 Kearnan Myall, 19 Adam Balding, 20 James Brooks, 21 Andy Tuilagi, 22 Rob Vickerman.
