Home defeats are rare for Sale – the loss to Exeter in October was the last time they were taken down on their own patch in the last year – but Saracens are more than capable of overcoming the 1-point handicap handed to them.
It was only when they adopted mauling tactics that Sale turned last week’s game against bottom-of-the-table Bath around, and the way they fail to put together full 80-minute performances is still a concern.
Sarries have to contend without Owen Farrell who is still going through his return-to-play protocol but Alex Goode is a very good deputy at No.10.
AJ MacGinty’s continued absence for Sale will probably be more keenly felt, especially in the goal-kicking stakes.
In what should be a tight, forward-dominated game, kicking your points when they are available is a must, and Sale failed to do that in the draw at Bath, which is another factor why Sarries should get the job done.
Sale Sharks: 15. Luke James; 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Sam James, 12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11. Arron Reed; 10. Robert du Preez, 9. Faf de Klerk; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Ewan Ashman, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Lood de Jager, 6. Jono Ross, 7. Ben Curry, 8. Daniel du Preez
Replacements: 16. Akker van der Merwe, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. Nick Schonert, 19. Jean-Pierre du Preez (JP), 20. Tommy Taylor, 21. Raffi Quirke, 22. Manu Tuilagi, 23. Jack Metcalf.
Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Max Malins, 10 Alex Goode, 9 Aled Davies; 1 Eroni Mawi, 2 Jamie George (c), 3 Vincent Koch, 4 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Tim Swinson, 6 Maro Itoje, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Tom Woolstencroft, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Theo McFarland, 20 Andy Christie, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Duncan Taylor, 23 Alex Lewington
