Hanley ruturns for Sainst test

STEVE Hanley will take over from Jason Robinson at left wing as Sale Sharks bid to return to winning ways against Northampton Saints at Heywood Road on Saturday.

Robinson has been picked to start in the same position for England in their match against Ireland in Dublin the same day, having played there for the Sharks at Bath last weekend.

Hanley, who was injured for Sale's narrow defeat in the west country, returns to Zurich Premiership action after suffering a bruised back. He and right wing Mark Cueto are Sale's top scorers this season with four apiece.

But the side will be without injured centres Dan Harris and Mel Deane, while Jos Baxendell is struggling to recover from an ankle injury. That leaves Martin Shaw as the only senior centre at the club who is fit.

With other injury niggles in the front row, the Sharks will not determine their final line-up until Saturday.

Sale's match will kick off at 12.35pm, avoiding a clash with the Ireland v England clash later in the afternoon.

Coach Jim Mallinder says of the Northampton game: "We are keeping our fingers crossed that Jos makes it because this is a game we have to win.

"We know we can play a lot better than we did at Bath last week, even though we did play some good rugby at times. What we need to do is play like that for 80 minutes.

"Saints will be difficult. They have a big, physical pack which is very well organised and they have tended to give us a hard time in recent seasons."

Skipper Bryan Redpath hopes to play even though he will go into hospital on Tuesday for a hernia operation.