Two key players return for Sale Sharks' Champions Cup quarter-final

The Sale Sharks have been boosted by two returning stars ahead of their trip to Paris where they face Racing 92 in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup (Kick-Off 3pm BST – Live on BT Sport, Channel 4, BBC 5 Live).

Tom Curry makes his first Sale Sharks start since the Six Nations and there’s also a return for fly-half AJ MacGinty.

Alex Sanderson has mades six changes in total to the starting line-up following the victory over the Newcastle Falcons.

Manu Tuilagi, skipper Jono Ross, Simon Hammersley and World Cup winner Lood de Jager also return to face the Parisians for a place in the last four of European rugby’s most prestigious competition.

Bevan Rodd, Akker van der Merwe and Nick Schonert make up an unchanged Sharks front row for the clash at the Paris La Défense Arena.

But it’s all change in the second row as Jean-Luc du Preez switches from the number 6 shirt to take his place alongside de Jager.

Tom Curry returns from a hamstring injury at openside flanker and he’ll pack down alongside Sharks skipper Ross at blindside and Daniel du Preez at number 8.

Faf de Klerk remains at scrum-half and he’ll have the fit-again AJ MacGinty for company at half-back after the USA captain recovered from a knee injury sustained against Gloucester in March.

England star Tuilagi returns to partner Robert du Preez in the midfield, while the versatile Hammersley is selected to play on the wing. Tom Roebuck takes his place on the opposite wing, with Luke James keeping his spot at full-back.

SALE SHARKS LINEUP

15. Luke James, 14. Thomas Roebuck, 13. Robert du Preez, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Simon Hammersley, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Faf de Klerk, 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Jean-Luc du Preez, 5. Lood de Jager, 6. Jono Ross (c), 7. Tom Curry, 8. Dan du Preez.

Replacements:
16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. Coenie Oosthuizen, 19. Jacobus Wiese, 20. Ben Curry, 21. Fergus Warr, 22. Sam James, 23. Rohan Janse van Rensburg,