Today. Kick-off 4pm, Chester RUFC
LEICESTER are hoping to secure their first ever victory in the Women's Premiership against fellow strugglers Sale.
On paper this looks like Vicky Macqueen's side's best opportunity to pick up their maiden win, with Sharks one place above the bottom side. Sale have picked up just one win – against Harlequins in November – but have played only five games due to postponements.
The hosts were well beaten last time out in a 69-3 loss to Saracens but Leicester second row Becky Noon is expecting a tough encounter against a side, who have a different game plan to theirs.
Noon said: “We are still pushing for our first win. I think it will be quite an entertaining match as we play very differently; Sale like to wear teams down by keeping the ball tight, putting the pressure on, whereas we prefer to play a lot wider. So, it'll be an interesting clash of our two styles.”
There are two changes to the Leicester pack from their 50-12 defeat to Bristol Bears last weekend, with Eva Donaldson returning to partner Noon at lock and Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele also back in the squad partnering Morgan Richardson and Tahlia Brody in the back row.
In the centres, Canadian international Claire Gallagher is set for her first start after signing last week and slotting a conversion off the bench, partnering captain Meg Jones who shifts from inside to outside centre.
The final changes are in the back three, with Tess Feury returning to the wing and Amanda Swartz slotting in at full back.
Canada international Julia Omokhuale is in line for her debut from the replacements.
Sale's USA lock Erica Jarrell makes her debut, while the match brings up winger Hollie Bawden's 50th club appearance.
Coach Rachel Taylor has made four changes from the defeat to Saracens. Vice captain Lauren Delaney comes out in place of Bawden, while at scrum-half Jess Taylor-Roberts is demoted to the bench with Sian Jones getting the start. Molly Kelly replaces Niamh Swailes at hooker, Jarrell and Iona Antwis form a new second row, with Sara Tounesi moving to No.8.
TEAMS
SALE: Irwin, Prothero, Haungatau, Rigoni, Bawden, Yamamoto, Jones; Young, Kelly, James, Jarrell, Antwis, Brown, Perris-Redding (c), Tounesi
Replacements: Swailes, Benson, Harper, Bowman, Searcy, Grieve, Howard, Perrin
LEICESTER: Swartz, Feury, Jones, Gallagher, McGhie, Jones (c), Relf; Bartlett, Martin, Cockburn, Donaldson, Noon, Sagapolu Sanele, Richardson, Brody
Replacements: Bainbridge, Knight, Jacobs, Fray, Omokhuale, McBrien, Nye, Nicholas
Refereree: Neil Chivers
