Preview: Sale Sharks vs. Bath

Sale Sharks will have to put their recent LV= Cup final defeat behind them on Friday when they continue their battle for Aviva Premiership survival against Bath.

The two sides meet at the Salford City Stadium with the hosts just two points above the relegation zone following two straight losses.

Meanwhile, a fourth win in five matches for Bath would get the West Country club's playoff hopes back on track.

Danny Cipriani has been named among the replacements as Sale make a number of changes for the contest.

Cameron Shepherd and Dwayne Peel are both in the starting XV, while Sammy Tiutupou and Mark Cueto also return.

Bath welcome back captain Stuart Hooper alongside Paul James, David Wilson and Rob Webber.

Recent form:

Sale: WWLLWL

Bath: WWWLWL

Lineups:

Sale: Shepherd, Amesbury, Leota, Tuitupou, Cueto, Macleod, Peel, Powell, Seymour, Braid, Ostrikov, Gaskell, Thomas, Jones, Dickinson Replacements: Taylor, Harrison, Buckley, McKenzie, Myall, Fowles, Cipriani, Vernon

Bath: Abendanon, Agulla, Banahan, Eastmond, Biggs, Heathcote, Stringer, Skirving, Fearns, Louw, Attwood, Hooper, Wilson, Webber, James Replacements: Batty, Catt, Perenise, Day, Gilbert, Classens, Devoto, Rokoduguni

Sports Mole says: Bath to pick up a rare away victory