Sale Sharks are determined to complete their European Challenge Cup pool campaign in style and secure a place among the top two seeds.

Sharks have already booked a quarter-final berth as Pool Four winners after claiming five successive bonus-point victories.

But together with fellow English qualifiers Worcester and Bath, Sale are chasing the first or second ranking positions.

In addition to a home quarter-final, the leading seeds are guaranteed home semi-final advantage should they win their last-eight ties.

Victory over French hosts Montpellier would see Sale achieve that aim.

Sharks rugby director Philippe Saint-Andre said: "Bath and Worcester are in a similar position to us, and there are three of us wanting the top two seedings.

"But we know this game will be a tough one, and we are expecting a full 80-minute battle."

Flu-hit England World Cup prop Andrew Sheridan will travel to southern France with the Sale squad, although he has not been named in a 22 that includes starters Mark Cueto, Luke McAlister, Charlie Hodgson and Sebastien Chabal.

Pool One winners Bath entertain Auch with their supporters still reeling from skipper Steve Borthwick's decision to join Guinness Premiership rivals Saracens.

England lock Borthwick's four-year deal, which starts next season, was announced on Wednesday. There is now growing speculation that he could lose the Bath captaincy as a result.

He will be on the bench on Saturday - fellow England internationals Lee Mears, Matt Stevens, Olly Barkley and Nick Abendanon join him - as Bath head coach Steve Meehan rotates his squad.

Matt Powell, meanwhile, takes over leadership duties from a rested Pat Sanderson in Worcester's Sixways clash against Bucuresti.

Worcester, with Pool Two safely in the bag, also give Sanderson's back-row colleague Kai Horstmann a breather, but rugby director Mike Ruddock fields the same back division that accounted for Montauban last weekend.

Sunday's Challenge Cup action sees Newcastle needing victory against Kingston Park visitors Cetransa El Salvador to guarantee a quarter-final place.

Falcons rugby director John Fletcher has rested fly-half Jonny Wilkinson - Toby Flood moves to number 10 - with Mathew Tait at full-back, his probable RBS 6 Nations starting position for England.

Fletcher said: "We did well last week out in Brive. We are top of the group now, and we just need to make sure we finish the job off this Sunday to secure a home quarter-final.

"On paper, people could say there is a huge difference between the two teams, but I've never really been one to buy into that.

"The weather will play a part, with a soft and very wet pitch forecast, and that is always a bit of a leveller.

"We are taking nothing for granted, and we know that we need to be mentally switched on to get the desired result."

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