Saracens v Sale: Teams

Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter has warned his players they must continue to improve if they are to maintain their title challenge.

Sarries welcome Sale to Vicarage Road having won eight and drawn one of their nine Premiership games this season.

However Venter believes the Sharks will offer his side a tough test.

"They are a side who have talented players across the pitch and in Charlie Hodgson, they have a fly-half and play maker who can turn games in an instant," said Venter.

"So the message I have given the players this week is clear - we must work harder and harder in every game to get the results we want. Working hard off the ball has seen us concede just four tries this season while working hard on the ball has taken us to eight wins in the competition.

"The effort and commitment levels from the players has been magnificent this season, but we have to increase those every game we play."

Sarries welcome back Noah Cato to the starting XV, while inside centre Adam Powell makes his first start of the season

Moses Rauluni comes in to start the game and USA international Hayden Smith returns to the starting line-up.

Sale welcome back Dwayne Peel for the trip south, however England full-back Mark Cueto has been forced to pull out.

Marika Vakacegu, who was initially named on the bench, comes in for Cueto, with Oriol Ripol named among the replacements.

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Derick Hougaard, 9 Moses Rauluni, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Andy Saull, 6 Wikus van Heerden, 5 Hayden Smith, 4 Steve Borthwick (capt), 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Rhys Gill.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Kasiano Lealamanua, 18 Richard Skuse, 19 Hugh Vyvyan, 20 Don Barrell, 21 Luke Baldwin, 22 Brad Barritt, 23 Rodd Penney.

Sale: 15 Nick Macleod, 14 Marika Vakacegu, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 David Bishop, 11 Ben Cohen, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 David Seymour, 6 Carl Fearns, 5 Sean Cox, 4 Dean Schofield, 3 Jack Forster, 2 Neil Briggs, 1 Eifion Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Rob O'Donnell, 18 Martin Halsall, 19 James Gaskell, 20 Kristian Ormsby, 21 Dwayne Peel, 22 Chris Bell, 23 Oriol Ripol.