Danny Cipriani is set to start at fly-half as injury-hit Sale travel to Northampton this Friday.
The Sharks are without frontline players James Gaskell and Dwayne Peel who both withdrew before Sale beat London Wasps last week.
An elbow injury to Nick MacLeod, who is expected to be back in November, gifts Cirpriani another chance to impress after his starring role in the Sharks’ last victory.
Sale’s Mark Easter, who turned out for the Saints for six seasons, spoke to the club website about the tie.
“It’s always a fixture that I look forward to, personally, with it being my old club,” he said.
“They’ve recruited well over the summer and their pack is always strong. They were unlucky last week [to lose] with the last kick of the game.
“You’ve got to give them respect in the right places but we’re going down there to play positively and hopefully get something from it.”
Josh Beaumont is also side lined with a serious knee injury but centres Johnny Leota and Sam Tuitupou along with prop Tony Buckley are all nearing full fitness.
Easter starts in the back row as Director of Rugby Steve Diamond rotates his props with Eifion Lewis Roberts and Vadim Colbilas coming into the side.
Former Sale legend and Northampton Director of Rugby, Jim Mallinder will be hoping that Lions’ wing George North can break his try-scoring duck for his new side at Franklin’s Gardens.
North spoke to BBC Radio Northampton: “I’m interested in the mix. With the power up front but also that freedom to play. We can really throw the ball around.”
“You’ve seen that in glimpses but hopefully there will be a bit more development on that in the next few games.”
“Hopefully we can open up and really attack because it’s definitely a backline capable of winning things. You’ve got a mixture of all skills.”
Stephen Myler will make his 200th appearance for the Saints in a side that features four other changes. England internationals Alex Corbisiero, Courtney Lawes and Phil Dowson return up front with George Pisi replacing James Wilson at outside centre.
Image courtesy of sale sharks via youtube, with thanks
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
