It'll be a buzzing atmosphere on Friday.....

London Wasps are the visitors to Edgeley Park on Friday night (kick off 7.45 p.m.) in an Aviva Premiership game that both sides will be desperate to win - for different reasons.

Sharks, although grateful to have added another 'losing bonus point' to their season's tally at Northampton, need to stay prominently among the Premiership's 'chasing pack' behind Quins and Saracens. Seven points separate third placed Saints and Irish, in eighth spot, a place and a point below the Sharks. Only the top four make the play offs, and, it is believed, there may be just five Heineken Cup spots up for grabs this time round.

Wasps' 12-15 loss to Exeter Chiefs on Saturday was their eighth straight defeat in the Premiership - their last success was at Worcester on October 28^th. Despite looking forward to a visit from Biarritz in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter final, Dai Young's men must be watching the narrowing gap between themselves and the Falcons (currently six points). Ironically, the two clubs will meet at Adams Park in the Aviva Premiership's final round on May 5^th.

News from Wasps

Apart from the injuries weakening the side, there are off field concerns at the club, with a change of ownership drawing ever nearer.

Last Saturday's lineup was:
Hugo Southwell ; Tom Prydie, Elliot Daly, Dom Waldouck, Richard Haughton; Nick Robinson, Nic Berry; Zak Taulafo, Tom Lindsay, Ben Broster, Ed O'Donoghue, Marco Wentzel , Richard Birkett, Jonathan Poff, Billy Vunipola

Replacements Rob Webber, Tim Payne, Simon McIntyre, Joe Launchbury, Sam Jones, Joe Simpson , Ryan Davis, Paul Emerick

Compare that with the squad which went down 18-29 to the Sharks on 17^th September:

Richard Haughton; Tom Varndell, Chris Mayor, Chris Bell , Christian Wade;Ryan Davis, Nic Berry; Tim Payne , Rob Webber, Ben Broster,Ross Filipo, Marco Wentzel , Joe Launchbury,Jonathan Poff,
John Hart (capt.)

Replacements Tom Lindsay, Jeremy Castex, Bob Baker, Richard Birkett, Joe Burton , Jonah Holmes, Riki Flutey , Hugo Southwell

News from Sharks

The coaching staff will be waiting to find out whether Andy Powell (Wales) and Richie Vernon (Scotland) will be required to represent their countries in the weekend's RBS Six Nations games at Twickenham and Murrayfield respectively.

Friends Reunited

Tony Hanks, Joe Ward and (possibly) Andy Powell are set to face their former club, whilst on the visiting side Chris Bell, Simon McIntyre, Chris Mayor and James Wade may be returning to Stockport in some capacity.

The pitch and the weather?

The pitch looks fine, and has seen no action since County drew 2-2 with Newport a week last Saturday. Although there are some showers forecast for Stockport this week, Friday night is expected to be clear.Temperatures are expected to peak at a balmy 13 degrees on Thursday, but, just in case, we have a wide selection of Winter Warmers available in our store. Could be a busy night there - there's a lot of interest in our replica shirt for £25 offer.

Sale Sharks v. London Wasps - this Friday at 7.45 p.m.

Tickets 08444 994 994 or click here to purchase online

Only three home games left after this one!