SALE will be missing two of their most potent weapons when they travel to Saracens' Vicarage Road on Sunday - and assistant coach Steve Diamond could not be happier for them.

Rugby league convert Jason Robinson and fly-half Charlie Hodgson have been picked for the England squad to face Australia on Saturday.

Diamond said, "It's a great achievement for both lads and the club; and it shows the huge steps we have made here at Heywood Road in the recent past.

"We will miss them when we play at Saracens, but that is what happens when you are successful and we know we have the strength in depth to cope."

Coach Clive Woodward has decided to follow Sharks' lead and throw Jason in at the full-back position, while starlet Hodgson will be kept in reserve, should Newcastle's Jonny Wilkinson be ineffective.

Robinson has been working on kicking out of hand with Sale head coach and former England full-back Jim Mallinder, in an attempt to improve his all-round union game.

All of the British Lion's representative starts to date have been on the wing, but his impact from full-back at club level has been hard for anyone to ignore, least of all England coach Clive Woodward.

The same goes for his fellow Yorkshireman Hodgson, whose breathtaking form this season has seen him score an impressive 149 points in 10 ever-present games.

Speaking exclusively to SAM sport, Diamond said, "The style of rugby that Clive Woodward wants to play is entirely conducive with how Jason plays. He's good at flowing, running rugby, and England now have what is potentially the best back three in the world."

Diamond was also fulsome with his praise for the fast-tracked Hodgson, who celebrates his 21st birthday on Monday.

"Charlie's place on the bench against the best in the world is fully deserved, and he will love every minute of it. He has been training with the England squad for six weeks now, and is ready to make his contribution.

"I know that if he is called upon, he will not let anyone down."

Tickets for Sale's top of the table clash with Leicester at Heywood Road on November 17 are selling like the proverbial hot-cakes, and regular fans are advised to book in advance or run the risk of missing out.

Tickets for the match, which kicks off at 12.30pm, can be bought by calling 08712 220120.