Clermont v Sale: Teams

Sale have suffered a blow by news that Mathew Tait and Andrew Sheridan will miss the Heineken Cup clash with Clermont.

Tait is ruled out with a hamstring injury, while prop Sheridan has damaged his arm.

However England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth keeps the No.10 shirt after impressing in the EDF Energy Cup, meaning Charlie Hodgson starts on the bench.

Scottish ace Rory Lamont is named at full-back, with Sheridan's spot is taken by Lionel Faure.

"Games don't come any tougher than this," said director of rugby Philippe Saint Andre.

"Clermont topped the French table last year and have started well this season.

Attack

"They will attack from the start and we need to be ready for them.

"It's been a difficult week preparing for the game with Mathew Tait pulling out with a sore hamstring but both he and Andrew Sheridan should be fit to return for the Munster game."

Meanwhile, the hosts have named a very strong side, though captain Aurélien Rougerie will not be available until the end of the year.

Both first-choice centres, former Springbok Marius Joubert and Italian Gonzalo Canale international are also absent. Joubert has been sidelined by a knock to the ribs. Fijian Seremaïa Baï and former Toulouse player Benoit Baby will thus form the midfield combination.

Anthony Floch will start at full-back an all international and extremely dangerous back-three while up front Pumas hooker Mario Ledesma will anchor the front row.

Clermont: 15 Anthony Floch, 14 Napolioni Nalaga, 13 Benoit Baby, 12 Seremaïa Baï, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 Brock Jame, 9 Pierre Mignoni, 8 Elvis Vermeulen (c), 7 Alexandre Audebert, 6 Julien Bonnaire, 5 Thibaut Privat, 4 Julien Pierre, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Laurent Emmanuelli.
Replacements: 16 Mirko Lozupone, 17 Thomas Domingo, 18 Christophe Samson, 19 Emmanuel Etien; 20 John Senio, 21 Pierre-Manuel Garcia, 22 Arnaud Mignardi

Sale: 15 Rory Lamont, 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Luke McAlister, 12 Lee Thomas, 11 David Doherty, 10 Richard Wigglesworth, 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Sebastien Chabal, 7 Luke Abrahams, 6 JM Fernandez Lobbe (c), 5 Kristian Ormsby, 4 Chris Jones, 3 Eifion Roberts, 2 Neil Briggs, 1 Lionel Faure.
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Stuart Turner, 18 Jason White, 19 Dean Schofield, 20 Charlie Hodgson, 21 Chris Bell, 22 Rudi Keil.