This is the fourth successive LV= Cup final with no Welsh involvement. Harlequins are bidding to become just the second reigning Premiership champions to carry off the Anglo-Welsh Cup following London Wasps in 2006. Quins are also aiming to become only the second side to win the title with a played six, won six record since Northampton in 2010. Harlequins have won their last five appearances at finals since their 27-30 defeat to Newcastle in the final of the 2001 Tetley's Bitter Cup at Twickenham. The Londoners' solitary defeat in their seven previous visits to Sixways was 7-33 to Worcester in the Premiership on 2 October 2004. Sale Sharks' only defeat in the LV= Cup this season came in round one, 28-34, to London Irish at Madejski Stadium. The Sharks have not played in a final since they won the Premiership title at Twickenham in 2006, and have not lost a major final since Newcastle beat them 37-33 in the Powergen Cup final of 2004. Sale have lost on their last three visits to Sixways since beating the Warriors there, 37-20, in the Premiership on 31 January 2009. Harlequins have won the last six meetings between the two clubs in all competitions since the Sharks won 21-17 at Edgeley Park in the Premiership on 17 September 2010. This will be their third fixture this season following a 37-14 Quins win at the Twickenham Stoop on 15 September and a 30-21 win at Salford City Stadium on 22 February. The sides have met five times before in a knockout cup situation, with Sale victorious only once - the 1997 Pilkington Cup semi-final at Heywood Road. They have clashed twice before in the pool phase of this competition with Sale winning 28-27 at the Stoop in October 2006 and Harlequins victorious 37-25 at Edgeley Park five years later.