The game was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday evening but as the temperatures are due to fall as the week goes on, the kick off time has been changed.

Sale Sharks Head of Media Dave Swanton explained, “ Nigel Felton is bringing his hot air system to the ground today and the pitch will be covered until just before kick off time. Nigel advised that a late kick off may cause problems in that the pitch could become unplayable as the temperatures fall. With the safety of the players in mind we highlighted this to the RFU who contacted the broadcasters and the kick off time change was agreed. The game will now be screened on delayed transmission.”

Swanton added, “ We would like to thank the RFU, Premiership Rugby, Scarlets and S4C for the help in changing the kick off time.”

Sale Sharks:

15. Rob Miller

14. Tom Brady

13. Andrew Higgins

12. Johnny Leota

11. Luther Burrell

10, Nick Macleod

9.  Cillian Willis

1. Alasdair Dickinson

2. Tommy Taylor

3. Henry Thomas

4. Fraser McKenzie

5. Andrei Ostrikov

6. James Gaskell

7. David Seymour (capt.)

8. Richie Vernon

16. Marc Jones

17. Lee Imiolek

18. Vadim Cobilas

19. Kearnan Myall

20. Andy Powell

21. Scott Mathie

22. Sam Tuitupou

23. Joaquin Tuculet

Sharks’ Executive Director of Sport Steve Diamond said, “On the back of two away wins, we’ve now got two matches at Edgeley Park – both completely different. The pressure of progressing in the Amlin Challenge Cup is there – we want to win it.  We’re fielding a strong side.  We know that Agen will be making changes after their Top 14 match last Tuesday, but their team will be in accordance with the competition rules, selected from their nominated squad.

We know it will be a highly competitive game on Sunday, and we want our home crowd to be vociferous.”

23, and centre Jordan Davies, 21, moving to the Championship side.

Titterrell was a Premiership winner with the Sharks during his first spell at the club between 2000 and 2007 and will move back to Edgeley Park on loan until the end of January when he will return to Leeds Carnegie ahead of the Championship Play Offs.

Cliff and Davies will join up with Leeds Carnegie with immediate effect for the remainder of the season and could be part of the squad for this Saturday’s final pool game in the British & Irish Cup game at Pontypridd.

Sale Sharks Executive Director of Rugby Steve Diamond said, “ Andy was a young lad at the club during my first spell of coaching and I have followed his career with interest. He is a great competitor and will give us the extra options we need at Hooker at this crucial point in the season. Andy joined us this morning for his first training session and is training with the first team squad. Regarding Will and Jordan’s moves to Leeds it will give both lads plenty of good quality competitive rugby to play on a regular basis. As with Iain and Tommy we will be watching their progress with interest.”

Commenting on the new arrangements Chief Executive Gary Hetherington said, “This is not a decision we have taken lightly as Andy is a huge part of our club and where we want to be in the future. However, we recognise the fact that we have an excellent relationship with Sale and the fact that Andy would have no interest in playing for any other Premiership club other than the Sharks, who he still has a close bond with. We already have Tommy Bell and Iain Thornley on loan from Sale for the entire season and both players have been outstanding for us and the addition of Will Cliff and Jordan Davies will strengthen our squad in key positions for our promotion push in the New Year.”

Titterrell, who made 122 Premiership appearances for the Sharks in his first spell at the club, is looking forward to the challenge of playing in the top flight again this season. He added, “This was a very difficult decision to make because we are building something special at Leeds Carnegie. However, I know the relationship with Sale Sharks is an important one for the club and I am looking forward to playing for the Sharks until the end of January.”

Also included in the matchday squad is former Auckland Blues flanker Onosa’i Auva’a,  who is set for his Sharks’ debut if he comes off the bench.

Sharks: 15.Rob Miller, 14.Mark Cueto, 13.Johnny Leota, 12.Sam Tuitupou (capt.), 11. Joaquin Tuculet, 10.Nick Macleod, 9.Dwayne Peel, 1.Alasdair Dickinson, 2.Marc Jones, 3.Henry Thomas, 4.Fraser McKenzie, 5.Kearnan Myall, 6.James Gaskell, 7.David Seymour, 8.Andy Powell.

Replacements :16.Tommy Taylor, 17.Vadim Cobilas, 18.Tony Buckley, 19.Richie Vernon, 20.Onosa’i Auva’a. 21.Cillian Willis, 22.Tasesa Lavea, 23.Luther Burrell.

Sharks’ Executive Director of Sport Steve Diamond said, “In terms of our development, this match is the most pivotal game of the season. Exeter are a good side.  They are very workmanlike, keep the ball well and they wait for you to make a mistake. If we can achieve parity at our lineout and scrum, we can get some joy out of the game.”

Sale Sharks: 15.Rob Miller, 14.Will Addison, 13.Johnny Leota, 12.Sam Tuitupou (capt.), 11.Mark Cueto, 10.Nick Macleod, 9.Will Cliff, 1.Alasdair Dickinson, 2.Tommy Taylor, 3.Henry Thomas, 4.Fraser McKenzie, 5.James Gaskell, 6.Richie Vernon. 7.David Seymour,  8.Andy Powell,

Replacements 16.Marc Jones, 17.Vadim Cobilas, 18.Tony Buckley, 19.Kearnan Myall, 20.Mark Easter, 21.Cillian Willis, 22.Tasesa Lavea, 23.Tom Brady

Sharks’ Executive Director of Sport Steve Diamond said, “It’s a long time ago since I left Saracens. They have created a super franchise. They are now going away from home and winning at Gloucester ,so we know that we are up against a top side on Sunday.

“ In the end it’s all about our performance this weekend.  If we get it right in our set piece and defence then we stand a chance of getting something out of the game. They are one of the top super clubs in England right now and if you get anything from them away from home, then you are doing well.”

Ulster have been given dispensation to recruit a foreign player on a short-term basis to provide cover for Jared Payne who ruptured his Achilles in the PRO12 match against Treviso on 7th October and who faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines recovering.

Terblanche (36) who has been capped 37 times for the Springboks, made his final appearance for the Natal Sharks in last Saturday’s Currie Cup Final against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg. He made his debut for the club back in 1999 before joining Welsh franchise The Ospreys in December 2003. He returned to South Africa, and the Sharks, for the 2007 Currie Cup season in which he made his 100th appearance for the club.

"At this stage in the season with players all under contract it was always going to be difficult to recruit a high-calibre individual to provide cover for Jared, but we delighted that we have been able to convince Stefan not to hang up his boots just yet." said Ulster Director of Rugby David Humphreys

Despite the fact that Terblanche comes to Belfast on a short term contract, he should settle in quickly with former Sharks team-mates Johann Muller and Ruan Pienaar in the squad.

His arrival date is subject to the time it will take to meet the requirements of the UK Border Agency

.

There’s a new pairing at centre, Sam Tuitupou and Johnny Leota, whilst in the back row of the pack Richie Vernon starts at Number 8 for the first time. Prop Tony Buckley has recovered from flu and takes his place on the bench alongside returning hooker Joe Ward.

Sale Sharks: 15.Rob Miller, 14.Tom Brady, 13.Johnny Leota, 12.Sam Tuitupou (capt.), 11.Mark Cueto, 10.Nick Macleod, 9.Dwayne Peel, 1.Alasdair Dickinson, 2.Marc Jones, 3.Henry Thomas, 4.Fraser McKenzie, 5.Kearnan Myall, 6.James Gaskell, 7.David Seymour, 8.Richie Vernon.

Replacements 16.Joe Ward, 17.Vadim Cobilas, 18.Tony Buckley, 19.Mark Easter, 20.Andy Powell, 21.Will Cliff, 22.Luther Burrell, 23.Will Addison.

Sharks’ Executive Director of Sport Steve Diamond commented, "Andy Powell returned to the club on Tuesday, chomping at the bit, and went straight into training with the lads, whom he’d already met during pre-season. He will be taking some part in the game against the Tigers.

"We’ve had some good sessions this week, working on several issues raised by last week’s game; we’re one big unit and know where we need to focus.

" The match against Leicester will be very tough – probably our hardest task of the season. We can’t wait! Edgeley Park is definitely the place to be on Friday night, and we’re looking to our fans to roar us on in this vital game."

Sharks’ Executive Director of Sport Steve Diamond said, “Sam joined us in the Summer and has been outstanding at training, leading by example and motivating others. He has captaincy experience from his Auckland days. It was a difficult decision – there were three or four lads who ‘stuck their hands in the air’ and wanted to be captain – but we thought that Sam would be here with us and not be playing in internationals. That was one of the considerations with the new team and the new environment at the club: it’s the right way.

“We’re not having vice captains. If Sam is unavailable, we’ll pick a captain as we go forward. We’ve got two other leaders in the group – Joe Ward and Nick Macleod – who are our ‘governors’. They look after discipline for us and that’s how it works out for the team.”

Tuculet – 22 was the first-choice number 15 for Los Pampas, the Argentine champion club last season, and played for his country’s ‘A’ Team Los Jaguares in this Summer’s IRB Nations Cup in Romania. He scored four tries in four matches.

Two years ago, he represented his country in the IRB Junior World Cup in Japan, where James Gaskell starred for England.

Tuculet, who has risen through the ranks of club rugby in his native land, is widely expected to break into the senior international ranks in the near future.

Steve Diamond said, ” I first saw Joaquin when I coached Russia and he impressed me. He narrowly missed out on selection for the Puma’s World Cup Squad, and I am delighted he has joined us. He will fit in perfectly with what we are trying to achieve at the club and has already started training.”

Joaquin Tuculet – Factfile

Born La Plata, 8th August 1989
Height 181 cm, 5ft 11ins.
Weight 83kg, 13st 1 lb.

Newcastle booked their place in the finals of the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series with a convincing display at Edgeley Park on Friday.

Falcons won three out of three to cruise into next Friday’s final at the Stoop where they will be looking to go one better than their runner’s up spot to Saracens last year.

And they will be joined by hosts Sale who booked their place with a win over Worcester in the final match of the evening.

It was the Sharks who made the brightest start to the evening opening the scoring through centre Will Addison to take a 7-0 lead over Newcastle at half-time.

That was as close as anyone came to troubling Falcons and they came roaring back after the break with three tries, Joel Hodgson scoring the first and setting Ryan Shortland up for the second before Luke Fielden sealed the 15-7 win.

A very inexperienced Leicester side was then dispatched by Worcester 19-10, Danny Gray proving the difference with two tries and two conversions while James Freeman grabbed the Warriors’ other try.

Centre Ed Rolston scored two tries for Tigers but it was not enough to avoid defeat.

Leicester were immediately back in action and clearly unable to cope with back-to-back games as the Sharks tore them to shreds 47-0.

Player of the round Danny Bibby scored a hat-trick while Jordan Davies, Will Cliff, Addison and Tom Brady also helped themselves to tries.

Newcastle then booked their place in the finals with a comfortable 19-10 over Worcester, Hodgson again scoring from an offload from Luke Eves.

Fielden again got on the scoresheet, along with Mark Wilson to put Newcastle clear before a Sam Miller double gave the score some respectability.

Falcons were able to overcome the challenge of back-to-back games in their following clash with Leicester, crushing the Tigers 41-7 after conceding early.

Tahir El Mahdi pounced to give Tigers the early lead but two tries from Chris Pilgrim, as well as scores from Wilson, Richard Mayhew, Alex Tait, Will Chudley and Aaron Myers, were enough for a convincing win.

That set up a winner-takes-all clash in the final match between hosts Sale and Worcester, and the Sharks gave the visitors no chance as they coasted to 45-12 win.

Tickets for every round of the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series are available through Ticketmaster /www.ticketmaster.co.uk http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk /or by calling 0844 847 2492