The side from the Welsh capital are currently ranked the fifth best side in Europe and because of that avoided their fellow top six seeds in the draw for the Pools of the Heineken Cup.

But a defeat for the Blues to the Sharks would threaten their place as one of the top six seeds so they will be going all out to make sure they get all the points on offer on Saturday afternoon.

Cardiff will also want to exact revenge on Sharks side which recorded a last ditch 34-33 victory over the Welsh side in the opening game of this Pool at the Salford City Stadium back in October.

The Welsh region looked to have sewn up an easy win, wing Alex Cuthbert a constant danger, but their second half capitulation was the worst possible defeat at the start of Europe and gave the English side their only win in the Pool.

Both sides are now out of Europe and were well beaten by French opposition in their last Pool game, with the Blues beaten 45-25 by Toulon and Sale lost 27-6 to Montpellier.

Match Facts

• Cardiff Blues have managed 19 wins against English clubs in this tournament, losing 16 and drawing three.
• Sale are currently enduring a run of four consecutive defeats in this competition, the longest in their history.
• Sale have three victories over Cardiff, who have boast two against Saturday's opposition. Sale's three wins produce an aggregate score of 87-83 having never won by a bigger margin than two points.
• Cardiff have lost their last six Heineken Cup matches, their worst run of form in this tournament since they lost 10 in succession between January 2002 and January 2004.
• Alongside Benetton Treviso, Cardiff have suffered from conceding more turnovers per game than any side. They average 10.4 per match.