Sale vs Leicester Tigers Prediction: Visitors can end Sharks’ perfect home record

Sunday’s (15:15, TNT Sports 1) sole Premiership rugby fixture sees two sides who have made contrasting starts to the campaign go head-to-head as third-from-bottom Sale Sharks host Leicester Tigers, who are second in the standings. 

The Sharks have won just three of their first six league matches, although all of these victories has come at the Salford Community Stadium and they will be hoping this strong home form stands them in good stead on Sunday. The Tigers, meanwhile, have won five of their opening six games and are one of three teams - alongside Bath and Bristol - to have come out on top in each away match so far and will likely provide a stern test for the hosts. 

Sale vs Leicester Tiger Odds

Home advantage sees Sale installed as the favourites for victory in this contest at 8/13, while the visiting Leicester are 7/5 to come away from Greater Manchester with the points. 

The draw provides odds of 18/1, while the visitors are 20/21 on with a +3 handicap. 

Rugby Union Odds

Team News 

Alex Sanderson has made 12 changes to the Sharks' side beaten 28-27 by the Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership Rugby Cup last time out, with Bevan Rodd, Ernst van Rhyn and Dan du Preez the only survivors. 

Each of Sale's England internationals - Tom Curry, Ben Curry, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Tom Roebuck and George Ford - return to the starting XV after representing the Red Rose during the autumn fixtures. 

The remaining changes see lock Hyron Andrews, scrum-half Gus Warr, centres Luke James and Rob du Preez, winger Arron Reed and full-back Joe Carpenter return to the side. 

Michael Cheika has also made a host of changes for Leicester, naming 13 new faces from the side that emphatically defeated Nottingham 70-29 last time out. 

Solomone Kata and Izaia Perese are the only surviving members of the XV from that starting side and they partner link up in the midfield. 

Jack van Poortvliet captains the Tigers from scrum-half, while the likes of Anthony Watson, Handre Pollard and Freddie Steward all return for the Tigers. 

Leicester Tigers to win @ 7/5

While Sale may have a perfect record at home this season, the Sharks head into this contest on a run of two consecutive defeats and this form should allow the visiting Tigers to claim victory on Sunday. 

Leicester boast the best defensive record in the division - conceding just 107 points across six matches - while no side has allowed fewer points away from home than their 53. 

The Sharks made a strong start to the season and, while the return of their international stars will undoubtedly help their cause, they looked vulnerable defensively in heavy away defeats to Northampton and Bath - conceding at least 40 points in both. 

While they can make this a close contest back on home turf, an away win looks a mighty tempting price for a team who won at Saracens on their last Premiership outing.