Sale utility back Ben Foden has been rewarded for his patience and loyalty by being preferred to Scotland full-back Rory Lamont for tonight's Guinness Premiership clash with Saracens at Edgeley Park.

Lamont, younger brother of Northampton's Scotland winger Sean, caught the eye in the World Cup wearing the number 15 jersey for his country but he will make his early-awaited debut for the Sharks on the wing.

The 22-year-old Foden, a specialist scrum-half, played on the wing during Sale's injury-ravaged season last year and has further demonstrated his versatility by filling in admirably at full-back.

"He's bought into the fact that we've picked him at full-back," said Sharks coach Kingsley Jones.

"It's been hard for the lad, we've picked him in so many different positions.

"But he is settling in this position and scoring tries and playing really well. It's only fair with stick with him.

"He's done a good job when we've needed it and to drop him from that spot now and move him around again would hardly be fair."

Lamont, who celebrated his 25th birthday last week, will face further competition for both the wing and full-back spots when Mark Cueto returns from England's World Cup campaign, and that is just how Jones likes it.

"I thought Rory had a great World Cup and was one of the leading lights of Scotland," he said.

"He's done outstandingly well at full-back for Scotland.

"I guess it will come down to form and the balance of the team when we get Cueto back."

Mid-table Sale's impressive home form will be put to the test by a Sarries team who have made their best start to a season for five years and are chasing a fourth successive away victory.

"They are a very good side, who are very well coached and able to play fairly well in every department," admitted Jones.

"Their scrum is good and their line-out is good and (Glen) Jackson and (Neil) de Kock are fantastic half-backs. De Kock has probably been one of the best signings in the Premiership so far. He means a lot to them."

Saracens climbed to second in the table after last week's win over champions Leicester and a bonus-point victory tonight would enable them to leapfrog Gloucester into pole position, at least until Sunday.

"We're pleased with the start that we have made to the season but we know that travelling to Edgeley Park is a tough prospect," said director of rugby Alan Gaffney.

"We lost up there last year but we gave them a pretty good run for their money, even though at one point we had two men in the sin bin.

"They are also starting to get some of their internationals back in the team and Charlie Hodgson is returning to form so we know they are a very strong side."

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