"It's a pull for them" - Alex Sanderson reveals why Sale's South African stars can't wait for clash with Durban Sharks

And with Sale being without major silverware for 20 years, Sanderson is using the Champions Cup as a target as they are “statistically out of contention for the league.”

This season hasn’t had the joys of recent years for Sale sitting in seventh in the PREM but that result against a high flying, effervescent Bristol side showed that there are positives. Most notably the leadership of club captain Ernst Van Rhyn.

Only made captain this season, Sanderson sung his praises. “He’s been phenomenal. And obviously he tops the work rate stats every week. [...] He leads from the front and is eternally positive, he’s such a better human being than me, it’s difficult to describe.”

This fixture in the battle of the shark is huge for so many players at the club like Van Rhyn as they are up against a team from their motherland. “It’s a pull for them!” said Sanderson. And when you look at the quality of the side they could bring, it’s hard not to agree with him, the likes of Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Ox Nche to name a few, hopefully it will be a tasty encounter.

“Get up against the best and show that you’re better. Almost there against Toulouse for 60 minutes last years, probably should’ve beaten Glasgow (05/12) with some injuries. This is now a really good opportunity against the best South African team.” Sanderson claimed.

An extensive injury list littered with internationals isn’t hindering the Sharks hopes with the likes of Raffi Quirke, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Tom Roebuck and Arron Reed all targeting the Northampton game on the 24^th of January as a return.