"The last inch is always the hardest" - Alex Sanderson reveals Sale Sharks' PREM title ambitions

For a side that has established itself as one of the league’s most consistent performers, the campaign ahead carries familiar questions surrounding whether they can finally make the decisive step towards winning a first Prem title since 2006.

Sale have been on the cusp of silverware for several years. Semi-final appearances have become the norm under Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson, yet the leap to a title has so far eluded them. The defeat at Welford Road in June was another example of Sale’s potential matched by their frustration. Sanderson is acutely aware of the challenge. “The last inch is always the hardest,” he reflected this week. “The margins of error are a lot smaller, everything's a lot tighter.”

This summer has brought change to the coaching group. Paul Deacon has departed, with Marco Bortolami stepping in as head coach and Joe Ford joining as attack coach. The effect, according to Sanderson, has been energising.

“We’ve brought in new insights, especially in attack and at the breakdown – areas that have been stumbling blocks in the last couple of seasons, at least at the start of the season. It’s not to say these guys are better than Deacs, but fresh impetus is what we've needed, and that's been felt by me, but the best feedback has been from the returning internationals. There's an excitement about what the future could hold with the coaching staff that we have now.”

Byron McGuigan’s involvement with England has also sharpened Sale’s thinking. Returning from his stint with the national setup, he has introduced ideas around the breakdown and decision-making that the Sharks are keen to implement. Perhaps the most notable evolution will be in how Sale play. Usually known for their physicality and set-piece power, the Sharks want to marry those traditional strengths with a more ambitious approach.

“We want them (the players) to take ownership of decisions on the field,” said Sanderson. “It’s taken influence from sides like Toulouse, but it suits the athletes we’ve got now compared to four or five years ago – a more dynamic pack, with backs that are evolving and have more game intelligence.

"I'd like us to have more freedom and that should be expressed by how we play."

That shift should be on show against Bristol, though Sanderson insists the fundamentals remain unchanged. “Winning builds confidence in all the new principles that you're trying to put in place,” he said. “A win off the back of a good performance would be great, a good performance would just be great.”

Sale’s recruitment this summer has been targeted rather than wholesale. Sanderson is optimistic the new arrivals – Nathan Jibulu, Marius Louw and Jacques Vermeulen – look set to make a greater impact than some signings of recent years. “They’re high-quality professionals and they’ve added over pre-season,” he said.

A question mark lingers over Sale’s depth at lock following the departures of key personnel. Yet Sanderson is determined to back the club’s pathway, highlighting England U20 standout Tom Burrow and towering prospect Ben Bamber as players capable of stepping up. “Keeping those pathways open has worked really well for us so far, so (we are) placing an emphasis on the system that's worked for us. The way the game is going, as the international scene dictates, perhaps more back five players than out-and-out locks.” Sanderson said. "We can compete in that area, we might be proven wrong, but we've put our eggs into that basket."

Bristol arrive with ambitions of their own after a disappointing league campaign last season. The Bears’ expansive style makes them an awkward opponent, and Sanderson is under no illusions about the scale of the task. “The team selection will reflect the respect we have for Bristol,” he said.

Sale have often found their rhythm late in the season, but Sanderson is determined to flip that script. “In the past two years, we’ve finished strongly but started poorly,” he admitted. “This time, the challenge is to start well so we don’t have to go that deep into the well for the last nine games.” For the Sharks, Saturday’s game is more than just a curtain-raiser. It is a chance to prove that their pre-season changes – in personnel, philosophy and mentality – can yield immediate results.

“Every season is like pushing the rock back up the hill,” Sanderson said. “You’ve got to do it with the same gusto, energy and force as what I did 17 years ago. That’s my challenge and the lads who are coming back in have got to attack the season like it's a new one.” The climb begins this Saturday against Bristol. Whether this is finally the season Sale reach the summit remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that the Sharks enter the campaign with renewed belief.