Leicester Tigers vs Sale Prediction: Tigers to show their claws

There’s a huge Gallagher Premiership showdown to look forward to on Friday night (19:45, live on TNT Sports 1) as second-place Leicester Tigers host third-place Sale Sharks at Welford Road.

I've provided my Leicester Tigers vs Sale prediction, including the essential team news and match odds for the clash in the East Midlands.

Leicester Tigers vs Sale Odds

Leicester are 1/2 to secure the valuable win to consolidate second place in the standings, while Sale are 13/8 to head back to the north west with the victory.

A draw at Welford Road is available at 22/1.

Team News

Starting with the hosts, Leicester have gone with props James Whitcombe and Joe Heyes on either side of skipper Julian Montoya in the front row.

George Martin is joined by Ollie Chessum in the second row, while the back row will consist of Hanro Liebenberg, Tommy Reffell and Jasper Wiese.

Jack van Poortvliet starts at scrum-half, with experienced fly-half Handre Pollard outside him.

Dan Kelly and Matt Scott make the centres, while Leicester have a back three of Ollie Hassell-Collins, Harry Potter and Freddie Steward.

As for the Sharks, Sale have a front row of Bevan Rodd, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Asher Opoku-Fordjour, with locks Jonny Hill and Hyron Andrews in the engine room.

Brothers Tom and skipper Ben Curry start in the back row, alongside number eight Daniel du Preez.

Gus Warr gets the nod at scrum-half, inside England No.10 George Ford, while Luke James and Rob Du Preez combine in the centres.

Sale have threats out wide, with Arron Reed, Tom Roebuck and Joe Carpenter all starting in the back three for the Sharks.

Leicester Tigers -8 @ 6/5

Winning five of their last 15 away games in all competitions, Sale have hardly been a formidable team on their travels in the past 12 months

This is indeed a very strong side that, should they finish the job and make the playoffs, would be a tough opponent in the semi-finals.

However, their form away from the Salford Community Stadium this season has been nothing to write home about, while the Tigers have been strong on their own patch.

Completing a 40-7 demolition job in their last Premiership home game against an attacking Harlequins side, Leicester showed just what they are capable of with or without the ball at Welford Road.

Leicester will feel like they have a point to prove after losing their last two home games against Sale but the last of those defeats was back in October 2023.

This Tigers side have improved significantly since then and they are good value to not only win on Friday night but also fall on the right side of the -8 handicap here.

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