Stormers vs Sale Prediction: Stormers power to take its toll on Sharks

Sale Sharks have struggled away from the familiar waters of Greater Manchester this season and a daunting task awaits them in the European Champions Cup on Saturday (13:00, Premier Sports 2) when they travel to Cape Town to face the Stormers.

Alex Jack provides his best bets in his Stormers vs Sale prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds.

Rugby Union Odds

Team News 

Starting with the hosts, the Stormers go with Sti Sithole, JJ Kotze and Frans Malherbe in the front-row, with second-rowers Salmaan Moerat and JD Schickerling also starting.

Deon Fourie, Dave Ewers and Marcel Theunissen make up the back-row, with half-backs Stefan Ungerer and Manie Libbok set to orchestrate the backline.

Centres Jonathan Roche and Wandisile Simelane start, with a back-three consisting of Ben Loader, Suleiman Hartzenberg and Warrick Gelant.

As for Sale, the Sharks are still missing England fly-half George Ford, so it's Rob du Preez who skippers the side from stand-off.

Gus Warr joins Du Preez in the half-backs, with Sam Bedlow and Luke James in the centres, while Aaron Reed, Tom Roebuck and Joe Carpenter start in the back-three.

In the forwards, it's Bevan Rodd, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Willgriff John in the front-row, with locks Hyron Andrews and Ernst Van Rhyn in the engine room.

Completing the pack, Jean-Luc du Preez, Tom Curry and Dan du Preez all start in the back-row.

Stormers vs Sale Sharks Odds

The Stormers are the favourites to make home advantage count at 2/7 for the win, while the Sharks to claim a scalp in Cape Town is available at 3/1.

A draw at Cape Town Stadium is currently at odds of 22/1.

Stormers -12 handicap @ 11/8 

The Stormers are without a win in the Champions Cup this season, but they can finally kick-start their campaign with a victory over Sale on Saturday.

Ignoring results from the Premiership Rugby Cup in November, the Sharks have lost six of their last seven games on the road.

Winning just one away game in the Premiership this season, the Sharks appear to be having real issues in replicating the same results they have achieved at the Salford Community Stadium.

The lack of England fly-half Ford continues to hurt the Sharks and will do so again on Saturday in a game that could really use his management around the field and expert goal-kicking.

With a powerful pack, the Stormers will look to take the fight to a Sale side that have had to deal with a host of injuries this season.

The Stormers have won five of their last six United Rugby Championship games on home soil and they are a tough nut to crack at Cape Town Stadium.

Leinster, Munster, the Lions and the Sharks have all left empty handed in that spell and it's hard to see Sale stopping the Stormers overcoming the handicap on their own patch this weekend.

Find more Rugby Union Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights