Bath v Sale Sharks: Aviva Premiership preview
Last Updated: 28/04/16 3:39pm
Danny Cipriani makes his 100th appearance for Sale as the Sharks take on Bath in a rearranged Premiership fixture on Saturday.
Fly-half Cipriani, who leaves Sale at the end of the season to join Wasps, will once again take his place opposite Bath and England pivot George Ford.
The teams clashed in the Premiership last weekend, and though Ford outscored his opposite number, Sale ran out 29-17 winners at the AJ Bell.
This week the sides battle it out at the Rec in a game that was originally scheduled to take place in January, but was postponed to allow Bath to fulfil Champions Cup duties against Toulon.
Sharks coach Steve Diamond has made three changes to his team with Johnny Leota, Ross Harrison and David Seymour coming into the starting XV to replace Sam Tuitupou, Eifion Lewis-Roberts and Cameron Neild.
Prop Lewis-Roberts drops to the bench, and if he features in the game it will mark his 200th appearance for his club.
Flanker Seymour takes up the captaincy as Sale seek the victory that would put them within touching distance of fourth-placed Leicester with two rounds remaining in the regular season.
Though a potential semi-final reflects the ambition of the club, Diamond is aware of the challenge that faces his players on Saturday.
"The Rec is a difficult place to go, and they are under a bit of pressure so we know that we expecting an improved performance from them," said Diamond.
"They've got a squad that is full of quality and will be playing to get some kudos back. There will be a big crowd at The Rec and they'll have pride to play for which is important to a side like Bath.
"It will be harder than last week's fixture for obvious reasons. If we can do a job in the last three games, and achieve what we think we can achieve then we will get into the Champions Cup."
Bath have made two changes to their starting line-up, with Charlie Ewels coming into the second row where he partners Dave Attwood.
Scotland international Dave Denton is included at blindside flanker, and joins Guy Mercer and Leroy Houston in the back row.
Bath: 15 Rhys Priestland, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 George Ford (c), 9 Chris Cook; 1 Nathan Catt, 2 Rob Webber, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Charlie Ewels, 5 Dave Attwood, 6 David Denton, 7 Guy Mercer, 8 Leroy Houston.
Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Max Lahiff, 18 David Wilson, 19 Dominic Day, 20 Levi Douglas, 21 Will Homer, 22 Max Clark, 23 Jeff Williams.
Sale Sharks: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Will Addison, 13 Sam James, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Nev Edwards, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Peter Stringer; 1 Ross Harrison, 2 Tommy Taylor, 3 Vadim Cobilas, 4 Bryn Evans, 5 Andrei Ostrikov, 6 TJ Ioane, 7 David Seymour (c), 8 Mark Easter.
Replacements: 16 Neil Briggs, 17 Eifion Lewis Roberts, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Jonathan Mills, 20 Cameron Neild, 21 James Mitchell, 22 Joe Ford, 23 Tom Brady.