Saracens vs Sale Predictions: Play-off hopes on the line for visiting Sharks

Sale lost to Saracens in last year’s Premiership final and a year on, their hopes of reaching the play-offs rest on overturning that result at Sarries (15:05, TNT Sports Extra) in Saturday’s final round of regular-season fixtures.

The Sharks have won their last four matches but face a tough task against a Saracens side whose only home defeats in the Premiership have come against Bath and Northampton at the top of the table. Sarries are assured of a play-off berth but need to push for a win to secure a home semi-final. Read below for my Saracens vs Sale predictions and all the latest team news.

Team News

Saracens have named a strong side including fly-half Owen Farrell and England forwards Jamie George, Maro Itoje and Ben Earls. Christian Judge comes into the front row and Scotland international Sean Maitland starts on the wing in the only two changes from the team that beat Bristol last week.

Sale also make two changes as full-back Joe Carpenter and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie return from injury. South African forwards Cobus Wiese and Jean Luc du Preez feature in the pack while England internationals George Ford and Manu Tuilagi are named in the backline.

Saracens vs Sale Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Saracens vs Sale page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Hosts Saracens are just 1-5 to claim the victory they need while the handicap is set at 11 points, the exact margin by which Sarries won this fixture last year.

Saracens to win by one to 12 points @ 2/1

Sale’s success last season, when they reached the Premiership final, was built on their strong defence and grinding out wins. But that’s an approach that is unlikely to cut it against Sarries, as the Sharks know from last year’s 35-25 defeat in the final at Twickenham.

However, Sale have noticeably upped their attacking game, scoring 20 tries in their last four matches having amassed 33 in their previous 13, and given that they have to win this game and can’t just rely on defence, they will have to play on the front foot.

Sale have a poor record away at Saracens, where they haven’t won in more than a decade, but recent clashes have been closer. There were ten points in it when the teams met at Twickenham last May while at the Stonex the Sharks were beaten by 11 points last season. In the previous three campaigns, their losing margin has been nine, 14 and six points.

Both teams play a pragmatic style with plenty of kicking and we are sure to see something of an aerial battle, so it’s hard to see either team really cutting loose. The visitors have enough in their attacking armoury to ensure they can keep it close even if they can't rule the day.

Nine of Saracens’ 11 victories this season have come by a double-figure margin but this is a day for getting the job done and Sarries will have their eyes on a home semi-final in a fortnight.

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