Sale vs Bath Prediction: Much-changed visitors to do enough

A big weekend of Gallagher Prem action concludes on Sunday afternoon when Sale welcome Bath to CorpAcq Stadium in Salford (KO 15:00, TNT Sports 1), with the visitors hoping to maintain the excellent recent form that saw them enter the weekend behind only Northampton Saints in the standings.

The Sharks are welcoming back a quartet of England internationals following the conclusion of the Six Nations, but find themselves down the pecking order with a 3-8 losing record after 11 rounds of games. Kindly read on my for Sale vs Bath tips, along with the latest team news and betting odds.

Rugby Union odds

Bath @ 20/21

Team news

Bevan Rodd, George Ford, Tom Roebuck and Luke Cowan-Dickie all start for Sale against the champions after playing their part in England's bitterly disappointing Six Nations campaign.

Nathan Jibulu is in the unfamiliar openside flanker position, while Rob du Preez is restored to his number 13 shirt after filling in at fly-half, where Ford now slots in.

Loosehead prop Rodd and hooker Cowan-Dickie return to join tighthead prop James Harper in the front row. Skipper Ernst van Rhyn teams up with Ben Bamber in the second row and Jacques Vermeulen, Sam Dugdale and Jibulu make up a dynamic back row.

Rob du Preez is named at outside centre with Rekeiti Ma'asi-White wearing 12, while Roebuck returns to the right wing with Arron Reed and full-back Joe Carpenter completing the back three.

Bath boss Johann van Graan is sending a changed line-up into battle in Salford, possibly with an eye on next weekend's Investec Champions Cup showdown with Saracens.

Scott Kirk and Vilikesa Sela will start in the front row, sandwiched by Dan Frost at hooker, while Will Jeanes partners the returning Ross Molony in the second row to complete the tight five.

Tom Carr-Smith commands proceedings from scrum-half, linking up with Argentina international Santi Carreras at No.10.

Cameron Redpath and Louie Hennessey are the centres while the back three is made up of Will Muir and Joe Cokanasiga on the wings and Tom de Glanville at full-back.

Match odds

Bath were 60-19 winners when these sides clashed in the Premiership Rugby Cup in February, but this should be a vastly different affair as Sale bid to end a seven-game losing sequence against the current Prem champions.

Alex Sanderson has pinpointed limiting and maintaining control of how Sale turn the ball over against what he concedes is a clinical Bath side.

While he has opted to bring back his England contingent, opposite number Van Graan is keeping his powder dry as the Champions Cup clash with Sarries looms next weekend.

Bath ran in nine tries in their Prem Rugby win over Saracens last time out and, while changes to their starting XV have been made, they could still prove too good for Sale given the depth in their squad.

Rugby Union betting tips with Betfred Insights.