Sale v Leeds: Teams

A number of key players will return for Sale's must-win clash against Leeds on Friday.

England international Mark Cueto, Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel, James Gaskell, Eifion Lewis Roberts and David Seymour are all available for the Sharks, who are only nine points ahead of bottom club Leeds.

And executive director Steve Diamond has praised his players for their attitude in the build up for the match.

"The players have been training hard since the defeat at Wasps preparing for this game," said Diamond.

"It's a crucial game for both teams and we have been working on all areas of our game."

Leeds, too, have rung the changes for the vital encounter - with England hooker Steve Thompson crucially making his return.

Thompson, who scored against Ireland, come straight into the side to form a new-look front-row alongside Mike MacDonald and Phil Swainston.

Skipper Marco Wentzel has recovered from a hamstring injury to replace Sean Hohneck in the second row.

In the backs, Lee Blackett is also fit-again to replace Scott Barrow. Coach Neil Back has made an additional switch, with Henry Fa'afili moving to the centres to accommodate Blackett on the wing.

Back said: "We gave the players some time off at the back end of last week and they appear to have really benefitted from the rest.

"Everyone came back in at the start of the week with a spring in their step and we are looking forward to going to Sale this week

"We are pleased to have Steve Thompson and Hendre Fourie back with us on a full time basis after the Six Nations and we have got a few guys back from injury who missed our last game against Northampton."

Sale: 15 Nick Macleod, 14 Ben Cohen, 13 Chris Bell, 12 Andy Tuilagi, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 Neil McMillan, 6 James Gaskell, 5 Wame Lewaravu, 4 Chris Jones, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Neil Briggs, 1 Lee Imiolek.
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 18 Jack Forster, 19 Sean Cox, 20 David Seymour, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Paul Williams, 23 Kyle Tonetti.

Leeds Carnegie: 15 Michael Stephenson, 14 Lee Blackett, 13 Henry Faafili, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Peter Wackett, 10 Adrian Jarvis, 9 Scott Mathie, 8 Alfie Tooala, 7 Hendre Fourie, 6 Kearnan Myall, 5 Marco Wentzel (capt), 4 Daniel Browne, 3 Phil Swainston, 2 Steve Thompson, 1 Mike MacDonald.
Replacements: 16 Scott Freer, 17 Gareth Hardy, 18 Juan Gomez, 19 Rhys Oakley, 20 Danny Paul, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Christian Lewis Pratt, 23 Semi Tadulala.