Luke Cowan-Dickie returns as Sale Sharks host Newcastle Red Bulls in Northern Derby

Sale Sharks will look to build on a strong start to the Gallagher Premiership when they host northern rivals Newcastle Red Bulls on Friday night at the CorpAcq Stadium (7.45pm KO).

Alex Sanderson has made four changes to his side, with British and Irish Lion Luke Cowan-Dickie returning to the starting XV in place of Nathan Jibulu. The hooker has not been in action since suffering a concussion upon the Lions tour, which saw the front row stretchered off in a neck brace against the Australia and New Zealand Invitational XV.

Summer signing Marius Louw and Sharks Academy graduate Tristan Woodman will make their first Premiership starts, while Scotland winger Arron Reed also earns his first league start of the season.

Skipper Ernst van Rhyn marks his 50th appearance for the Sharks and leads the back-row alongside Woodman and Sam Dugdale. The half-back partnership of Gus Warr and England fly-half George Ford will guide a backline completed by Rob du Preez and Louw in midfield, with Joe Carpenter and Roebuck on the wings.

Newcastle Red Bulls make six changes from their last outing, with South African Boeta Chamberlain at fly-half and Max Clark returning in the centres. The forwards see Adam Brocklebank and Richard Palframan join Fergus Lee-Warner in the pack, while George McGuigan captains the side in a challenge-led forward unit. Ethan Grayson starts at full-back with Elliott Obatoyinbo and Alex Hearle on the wings.

Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson said he’s expecting a physical challenge despite Newcastle having started the season with back to back defeats. “What I’ve seen from Newcastle in the past, and certainly in the first two games this season, is that they’re very physical and they’re not going to be lacking in commitment.

“They have got some of the highest collision dominance stats on both sides of the ball and they’ve had some good players come into the squad. So we have to be prepared to take the bull by the horns and marry our physicality up with our discipline. That’s where our professionalism comes in.

“We have to be disciplined with the ball, disciplined in the collisions and when we don’t have the ball and if we’re not, that’s what can let teams in. We need discipline in all aspects of our game.”

Head coach Alan Dickens, a former Sale Sharks player, said: “It’s the league’s derby weekend, and whilst I know everyone talks about the distance between Newcastle and Manchester this is still a really important rivalry for rugby in the north of England.

“It would make a big statement if we go over there and get a result, and that has to be the mind-set. We know it’s a tough place to go but we’ve prepared well, and I’m looking forward to it.”

“Physicality and the contact area have both been big work-ons from last weekend, and we know that’ll be massive against a Sale Sharks side who thrive on those aspects of the game. If we shut Sale down they’ll go aerial after a couple of phases, and that’s another challenge we have to rise to."

Sale Sharks: 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Arron Reed, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr; 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4 Ben Bamber, 5 Hyron Andrews, 6 Ernst van Rhyn (c), 7 Tristan Woodman, 8 Sam Dugdale

Replacements: 16 Nathan Jibulu, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 James Harper, 19 Tom Burrow, 20 Ethan Caine, 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 Tom O'Flaherty, 23 Sam Bedlow

Newcastle Red Bulls: 15 Ethan Grayson, 14 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 13 Connor Doherty, 12 Max Clark, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 James Elliott; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 George McGuigan (captain), 3 Richard Palframan, 4 Jamie Hodgson, 5 Freddie Clarke, 6 Fergus Lee-Warner, 7 Tom Gordon, 8 Amanaki Mafi

Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Micky Rewcastle, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Oscar Usher, 20 Cameron Neild, 21 Simon Benitez Cruz, 22 Brett Connon, 23 Oli Spencer