Sale host crucial battle

Sale Sharks and Bath will continue their quest for the one remaining prize available to them this season when they clash at Edgeley Park tonight.

Both clubs are in the Aviva Premiership’s mid-table zone after winning just 16 of 38 league games between them this season, but a top-six finish – and prized Heineken Cup qualification next term – can still be achieved.

Sale are seventh, two points behind sixth-placed Gloucester and two in front of Bath, with their west country opponents occupying eighth spot.

If Bath suffer defeat in Stockport this evening – their first fixture since it was announced that rugby director Sir Ian McGeechan and forwards coach Martin Haag will not be at the club beyond this season – it would effectively end hopes of a top-half finish.

Sale were beaten narrowly by relegation favourities Newcastle last time out, with Bath losing 26-6 at home to title play-off contenders Northampton.

“We were competitive at Newcastle, but we didn’t manage the game for the full 80 minutes,” Sale chief executive Steve Diamond said.

“We have hopefully rectified that in training.

“Our side has trained well this week, and we are looking forward to the final Friday night Premiership fixture at Edgeley Park. We aim to continue to progress and produce a good, hard-working performance.”

Sale will embark on a ground-share with rugby league club Salford City Reds next season.