Sale v Leeds (Fri)

England winger Mark Cueto and Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel return for Sale after Six Nations duty.

James Gaskell has recovered from an arm injury and starts in the back row, while prop Eifion Lewis-Roberts is back after a long-term knee injury.

Leeds are able to include hooker Steve Thompson following his return from the England squad.

Captain Marco Wentzel takes his place in the second row after recovering from a hamstring problem.

Bottom-side Leeds start nine points behind their hosts, who are currently in 10th place in the Premiership on 22 points with six games left to play.

Just four weeks after Carnegie faced their first so-called “relegation decider” against Newcastle, coming off 22-5 losers, they again take on a team uncertain of their survival in England’s top flight.

Both sides will be desperate to claim the win.

For the Sharks a victory would ease their relegation concerns; for Leeds it could be four points that spurs them on to narrowly avoiding the drop for a second successive season.

Sale: Macleod; Cohen, Bell, Tuilagi, Cueto; Hodgson, Peel; Imiolek, Briggs, Thomas, C Jones, Lewaravu, Gaskell, Mcmillan, Koyamaibole.

Replacements: M Jones, Lewis-Roberts, Forster, Cox, Seymour, Cliff, Williams, Tonetti.

Leeds: Stephenson; Blackett, Fa’afili, Burrell, Wackett; Jarvis, Mackay; MacDonald, Thompson, Swainston; Browne, Wentzel; Myall, Fourie, To’oala Vaeluaga.

Replacements: Freer, Hardy, Gomez, Oakley, Paul, Fury, Lewis-Pratt, Tadulala.