Sale Sharks, who saw caretaker coach John Mitchell return to South Africa over the festive period, will be hoping they can use the tail end of their European campaign to kick-start their season.

The Premiership strugglers have managed one victory, when they beat the Cardiff Blues at home, in the Pool but will be desperate to get any kind of win to boost their confidence.

The Sharks cannot qualify for the knock-out stages and only have pride to play for but they could end Montpellier's very slim hopes of a place in the last eight if they beat the French side.

Montpellier, who are only in the second season of Heineken Cup rugby, will be satisfied with their European campaign but they will want to keep the pressure on French rugby's big spenders heading in the final weekend of Pool games.

Match Facts

* The only previous meeting between these sides in this tournament came earlier in the season, when the French side triumphed on Sale's home ground.

* They have met four times in the Amlin Challenge Cup, with Sale claiming two wins and a draw in these games, including a 14-14 game when they last met in France.

* Sale's heavy defeat to Toulon means the Salford based club have the poorest defence in the tournament, averaging 36 points shipped per game.

* Sale's David Seymour has made the most tackles in the competition so far, completing 53 of 55 attempts. Danny Cipriani has missed a joint high 11 tackles.