Powerful prop Andrew Sheridan will be missing from the Sale front-row against Clermont Auvergne © Getty Images

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Matches: Clermont Auvergne 15 - 32 Sale Sharks

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup | Heineken Cup

Teams: Clermont Auvergne | Sale Sharks

Sale Sharks have been dealt an early blow in their Heineken Cup campaign with the news that Andrew Sheridan and Mathew Tait will miss their opening pool clash with Clermont Auvergne due to injury.

Sheridan is carrying an arm injury while England utility back Tait has a sore hamstring. Elsewhere, Charlie Hodgson will start the game on the bench with England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth taking his place at fly-half. Dwayne peel will partner him at half-back.

The hugely impressive Luke McAlister partners Lee Thomas in the centre, and Mark Cueto takes his place in the back three alongside Scotland international Rory Lamont and David Doherty.

Sale Director of Rugby Philippe Saint Andre will be taking his side to familiar parts, as he was a heroic figure for Clermont when they were known by their previous moniker of Montferrand. Saint Andre said, "Games don't come any tougher than this. Clermont topped the table last year and have started well this season. They will attack from the start and we need to be ready for them.

"It's been a difficult week preparing for the game with Mathew Tait pulling out with a sore hamstring but both he and Andrew Sheridan should be fit to return for the Munster game."

Clermont Auvergne: A Floch; N Vonowale Nalaga, B Baby, S Bai, J Malzieu; B James, P Mignoni; L Emmanuelli, M Ledesma, D Zirakashvili, J Pierre, T Privat, J Bonnaire, A Audebert, E Vermeulen (c).

Replacements: M Lozupone, T Domingo, C Samson, E Etien, J Senio, P Garcia, A Mignardi

Sale Sharks: Rory Lamont, Mark Cueto, Luke McAlister, Lee Thomas, David Doherty, Richard Wigglesworth, Dwayne Peel, Lionel Faure, Neil Briggs, Eifion Roberts, Chris Jones, Kristian Ormsby, JM Fernandez Lobbe (c), Luke Abrahams, Sebastien Chabal

Replacements: Marc Jones, Stuart Turner, Jason White, Dean Schofield, Charlie Hodgson, Chris Bell, Rudi Keil