Quins v Sale: Teams
Sale have three international players back in their ranks to take on Harlequins on Sunday.
Last Updated: 20/03/09 1:17pm
Sale Sharks have been boosted by the return of three internationals for their Guinness Premiership trip to Harlequins on Sunday.
Sebastien Bruno, Luke McAlister and Lionel Faure are all fit and will start for Sale at the Stoop.
"It's been a tough week for us as we lost several players injured in last weeks game at Northampton," said Director of Rugby Kingsley Jones.
"Some have thankfully recovered and will play this weekend. I also have Sebastien Bruno and Luke McAlister back after injury, and Lionel Faure has flown back from France to rejoin us."
Sale will hope their returning stars can stop a run of three successive defeats - their worst run of form since 2006/07, but they have only lost once at the Stoop since 2001, and have won five of the last six encounters with Quins.
The Londoners had been on a flying run of six wins on the bounce before last week's reversal at Newcastle, and their home from in the Premiership has been solid - with them unbeaten since September.
Quins will sadly be without fly-half, Nick Evans, who was unfortunate to pick up an injury against Falcons last week. He will be replaced by Chris Malone.
Dean Richards will make four other changes to his starting XV. James Percival and Jim Evans form a new partnership in the second row, with George Robson proving cover on the bench.
Mark Lambert comes into the front row to join Ceri Jones and Gary Botha, and Mike Ross moves to the bench. A similar situation occurs in the centres, where De Wet Barry puts on the number twelve shirt, and Jordan Turner-Hall moves to the bench.
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown , 14 David Strettle, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Tom Williams, 10 Chris Malone, 9 Andy Gomarsall, 8 Tom Guest, 7 Will Skinner (c), 6 Chris Robshaw , 5 Jim Evans, 4 James Percival, 3 Mark Lambert, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Ceri Jones .
Replacements: 16 Tani Fuga, 17 Mike Ross, 18 George Robson, 19 Neil McMillan, 20 Junior Polu, 21 Waisea Luveniyali, 22 Jordan Turner-Hall.
Sale Sharks: 15 Nick Macleod, 14 Rory Lamont, 13 Luke McAlister, 12 Rudi Keil, 11 David Doherty, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Will Cliff, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Neil Briggs, 6 Carl Fearns, 5 Brent Cockbain, 4 Chris Jones, 3 Eifion Roberts, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Rob O'Donnell,
Replacements: 16 Dave Ward, 17 Lionel Faure, 18 Sean Cox, 19 James Gaskell, 20 David Tait, 21 Jonny Kennedy, 22 Oriol Ripol.