Sale skipper Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe will return to action © Getty Images

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Matches: London Irish 28 - 6 Sale Sharks

Players/Officials: Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe

Tournaments/Tours: Guinness Premiership

Teams: London Irish | Sale Sharks

Premiership pace-setters Sale Sharks include club captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe in their side to face London Irish following an injury layoff. The Argentina flanker slots into the back row alongside Kristian Ormsby and Sebastian Chabal.

The Sharks currently possess the meanest defence in Premiership history, becoming the first side to complete four Premiership games without conceding a try with last Friday's win over Gloucester. Their defensive mettle will be sternly tested by the innovative back-line of London Irish, who themselves come into the game in fine form.

A dramatic comeback saw them win their London derby with Harlequins 28-27 on Saturday, having been 20-3 down with moments left in the first period. In a classic match-up pitting free flowing attack against staunch defence, the game could see Sale cement their position at the top or see the materialisation of an early tilt at the play-off places from the Exiles.

Sale Director of Rugby Philippe Saint Andre said, "After last Friday's win against Gloucester I have rotated my squad as we are in the middle of three games in eight days, and then we have the Heineken Cup. My Captain Juan Lobbe is now fully fit and ready to return."

Speaking about London Irish Philippe said, "They are a good side, well coached and they will be a difficult side to play against. Their result at Harlequins at the weekend says that they are an eighty minute side, very fit and liable to create scoring chances. They did the double over us last season and that included the final day defeat which cost us a play off place."

The Exiles have made five changes from the side that started against Harlequins, as among the backs Elvis Sevealii makes his first start at outside centre against his former club and Delon Armitage switches to full back with Peter Hewat moving to fly half to complete the attack that scored all of Irish's 28 points last Saturday.

Club captain Bob Casey makes his first start of the season in the second row following his return to action against Harlequins. The other changes to the pack are in the front row where Danie Coetzee and Tonga Lea'aetoa start at hooker and tight head prop respectively.

"We've decided to reward the team that finished Saturday's game at the Stoop by letting them start against the current league leaders tomorrow evening," said Toby Booth, London Irish Head Coach. "Our players have performed well to date. They've shown a willingness to compete for the full 80 minutes and in doing so have put themselves in a position to take points. That will be important against Sale.

"Like the other eleven Premier Rugby clubs we face the difficult task of playing three tough games in eight days. Squad management is important as we try to maintain the good start we've made to our Guinness Premiership campaign," said Booth.

"Like ourselves, the Sharks squad is numerically small by Premiership standards, but what it lacks in numbers is made up in terms of quality. You only have to look at the influence that players like Luke McAlister and Sebastien Chabal have had to date, to name but two. In addition, Philippe Saint Andre and Kingsley Jones rank among the most experienced and capable coaches in this country so it's no surprise that the team is going well. A great match is in prospect at Madejski Stadium tomorrow evening," Booth concluded.

Sale Sharks: Mathew Tait, Mark Cueto, Chris Bell, Luke McAlister, David Doherty, Charlie Hodgson, Dwayne Peel, Andrew Sheridan, Neil Briggs, Stuart Turner, Dean Schofield, Sean Cox, Kristian Ormsby, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (c), Sebastien Chabal

Replacements: Sebastien Bruno, Eifion Roberts, Jason White, Luke Abrahams, Richard Wigglesworth, Lee Thomas, Rory Lamont

London Irish: Delon Armitage; Topsy Ojo; Elvis Sevealii; Seilala Mapusua; Sailosi Tagicakibau; Peter Hewat; Paul Hodgson; Alex Corbisiero; Danie Coetzee, Tonga Lea'aetoa Nick Kennedy; Bob Casey (c); Richard Thorpe; Steffon Armitage; Chris Hala'Ufia

Replacements: Faan Rautenbach; David Paice; Dan Murphy; Gary Johnson; Declan Danaher; Peter Richards; Eoghan Hickey.