Ross Harrison will make his 300th Sharks appearance while Ernst van Rhyn and Rob du Preez also return as Senior Academy Coach Gareth Harris picks a mix of youth and experience to face Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Rugby Cup quarter-final.
Fly-half Tom Curtis captains Sale at Sandy Park and he’ll marshall a back-line featuring first-team regulars Gus Warr, Arron Reed, Sam Bedlow, du Preez and former Chiefs man Tom O’Flaherty.
In the front-row loosehead prop Harrison lines up alongside hooker Tadgh McElroy and academy tighthead Patrice Bell.
Former Chief Jonny Hill and van Rhyn team in the second-row and in the back-row, academy flanker Jos Gilmore joins Sam Dugdale and number 8 JL du Preez.
Warr and Curtis make up an experienced half-back pairing with Rob du Preez and Bedlow joining forces in a combative centre pairing.
Scotland winger Reed starts on the left wing, with former Sandy Park favourite O’Flaherty on the right. They’ll have England U20s star Ollie Davies between them at full-back.
On the bench, Gareth has picked an all academy back-up front row, as hooker Alfie Longstaff joins props Tumy Onansanya and Tye Raymont. Ben Bamber and Hyron Andrews offer plenty of height and power from the bench while Nye Thomas, Joe Bedlow and Alex Wills make up the backs replacements.
Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Ollie Davies, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. RTom Curtis ©, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Ross Harrison (300), 2. Tadgh McElroy, 3. Patrice Bell, 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Jos Gilmore, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. JL du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Alfie Longstaff, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. Tye Raymont 19. Ben Bamber, 20. Hyron Andrews, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Joe Bedlow, 23. Alex Wills.
