Sale, who welcome their London opponents at 2pm this afternoon, lie seventh in the Aviva Premiership though after a weak display against London Irish two weeks ago they are five points behind sixth-placed Wasps.

With the start of next year’s domestic season delayed because of England hosting the Rugby World Cup, Sale Sharks will face off against fellow Aviva Premiership teams Leicester Tigers and Newcastle Falcons in a Kings of the North tournament prior to the World Cup.

Former Tranmere Rovers chief executive Jeremy Butler increased season ticket sales with the Merseyside club and now he wants to achieve similar things with Sale Sharks as the World Cup takes centre stage in England.

Sale Sharks were in command against London Irish before half-time when Danny Cipriani’s pass was fumbled allowing Andrew Fenby to score and give the home side the advantage at the interval.

Sale sit in seventh place with a European spot firmly in their sights, but with just eight points separating them from fourth a challenge for the play-offs still remains a possibility.

Sale Sharks currently lie in seventh place just one point behind Wasps, who occupy the all-important final European spot with four Premiership matches to go.

A nationwide initiative launched on Tuesday, the Aviva Community Fund offers support and funding of up £25,000 to causes and projects that are put forward by the public, something close to Sale Sharks forward Nathan Hines’ heart.

In the inflatable dome outside Sale Sharks’ AJ Bell Stadium, year-seven Stanley High School pupil Owen Barnes caught more paper tickets in 30 seconds than anyone else to win two tickets to the Aviva Premiership Rugby Final on May 30.

Johnny Leota and Josh Beaumont scored the tries for Sale while Danny Cipriani showed his quality scoring 13 points with the boot in tricky conditions as Sale prevailed 23-6 over Gloucester.

The Sharks will hope that a three-week break from fixtures due to the Six Nations and LV=Cup will provide the perfect tonic to their indifferent form in time for the crucial run in.

Sale remain in seventh and nine points of the semi-final places after failing to claim even a losing bonus point in Round 17 in their 12-3 loss to Bath.