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Sale host Samoa at Edgeley Park on August 24 in what will be the Pacific Islanders' third and final warm-up match ahead of the World Cup starting in France next month.

Premiership champions in 2005-6, Sale suffered a long list of injuries last season and struggled to maintain their title aspirations as they finished a lowly 10th in the standings.

Schofield (pictured) hopes the Samoa game, which is preceded by a trip to French side Bayonne, will help the club hit the ground running this season.

"We fly out to France next week for our game against Bayonne and this will give all the squad the chance of staking a claim for a place in the team," explained Schofield, who played for England in both Test with South Africa earlier this summer.

"When we return we have a very important warm up game against Samoa at Edgeley Park and Philippe has said that he intends playing his strongest team available for this game.

"The Samoan side have three warm up games before the World Cup and as we are the final game, of the three, we fully expect them to name their first choice World Cup Side.

"It will be tough but after last season we are keen to put our problems behind us and I am sure several of our lads will be looking to prove a point to the international selectors in this game."

Sale will be up against team-mate Elvis Seveali'l when Michael Jones's Samoa side arrive at Edgeley Park.

"We all respect what Elvis can do and like many of the Samoan players he can change a game on his own, but we will be going all out on the night to give our supporters something to shout about," Schofield added.

Sale open their 2007-8 Premiership campaign with an away game at Newcastle on September 16.

Samoa have been drawn in the same pool as England at the World Cup, along with South Aftrica, Tonga and the USA.

They meet England in their Pool A clash in Nantes on September 22.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport