Tom Curry and Luke Cowan-Dickie return to club duty after their Six Nations international heroics as Alex Sanderson makes three changes to his Sharks side to face the Gallagher Premiership champions Northampton Saints at the Salford Community Stadium on Friday night (KO 7.45pm, LIVE on TNT Sports).
Sam Bedlow returns at inside centre in the other change to the side following the 39-17 win at Newcastle Falcons in round 12.
Hooker Cowan-Dickie returns to join fellow England squad members Bevan Rodd and Asher Opoku-Fordjour in a powerful front-row.
In the second-row, Ben Bamber and Jonny Hill team up again, while Tom Curry replaces his brother Ben at openside flanker in a back-row that also features Ernst van Rhyn and Jean-Luc du Preez.
Gus Warr and George Ford will combine once again at half-back and they’ll have Bedlow and Rob du Preez outside them in the centres.
Alex has named an unchanged back three with Tom O’Flaherty and Tom Roebuck starting on the wings and Joe Carpenter at 15.
Si McIntyre, Wales prop WillGriff John and hooker Tadgh McElroy are the front-row replacements with Hyron Andrews and Sam Dugdale the other forwards on the bench.
Scrum-half Nye Thomas joins fellow backs Will Addison and Arron Reed on the replacements list.
Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez ©, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford 9. Gus Warr, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Tom Curry, 8. JL du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Tadgh McElroy, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Hyron Andrews, 20. Sam Dugdale, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Will Addison, 23. Arron Reed.
Officials:
Referee: Hamish Smales
Assistant 1: Jack Makepeace
Assistant 2: John Meredith
TMO: Stuart Terheege
