"We can do something special" says Lund

He said: "The team are going well and I think we have got a great opportunity to do something special here. A lot of people don't rate us highly, but we have got some confidence so if we keep building that and growing it, then we can do something great."

Lund was speaking after the Sharks dominant display against the Dragons and the 32 year old thinks that the team's performances in the Challenge Cup can only benefit their league form: "It was a big win going forward in this competition, we have built a bit of momentum in the last few games, beating Wasps, Pau and now the Dragons so we need to keep that going heading back into the Aviva Premiership."

London Irish are next to visit the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday 30th January, Lund says it is crucial that the team turn their good performances into wins in the Premiership.

"This is a big part of the season for us now. We are into the quarter-finals and we have some tough games coming up in the Premiership so it is important to build on this.

"Going back into this competition is different, the intensity will be a lot higher, they (Irish) are scrapping a bit at the bottom, we aren't that much higher so it'll be all to play for."

Sale have now won five of their last six matches and Lund believes that the club should maybe be aiming a little higher in their seasons expectations: "We are going into a crucial period with the next four five league matches coming up so we have to build some confidence and maybe look a little bit higher that we did originally.

"Everyone needs points in the Premiership, it is so close amongst a lot of teams so every point counts. We just need to keep building and get better as a team and hopefully we can keep this run going."

Magnus Lund made his 150th appearance against Pau in the European Rugby Challenge Cup last week in his second stint at Sale and he says he is happy to be back in Manchester: "It is great to be here, to come back was a bit of a shock, but I am really enjoying it and I am enjoying my rugby. I had a good year last year with it being my first year back."