SALE Sharks boss Philippe Saint-Andre has opted to ring the changes for tonight's first Guinness Premiership home clash of the season with Saracens (7.45).

It's a sign of Sale's impressive armoury that five days on from their encouraging opening-day win at Newcastle Falcons, there will be seven new faces from the side that recorded a first-ever victory at Kingston Park.

Five of those are tactical or rotational but Saint-Andre's hand has been forced on the final two with new skipper Juan Lobbe - inspirational last week - and centre Lee Thomas both failing late fitness tests last night.

Sean Cox and Chris Bell have been drafted in to deputise with vice-captain Sebastien Chabal expected to lead the side.

Elsewhere, World Cup trio Rory Lamont, Sebastien Bruno and Andrew Sheridan all return to the starting XV after missing out last week through injury.

Scottish star Lamont lines up on the right wing in place of Mark Cueto, Bruno is named as hooker, while Sheridan takes over from Lionel Faure.

Saint-Andre has also added an intriguing twist to the battle for the number nine jersey by opting to rotate England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth (above) to the starting line-up with Dwayne Peel switching to the bench.

In the pack Welsh international Brent Cockbain comes into the second row with Dean Schofield stood down.

The Londoners went down 24-21 to Harlequins at Twickenham last weekend. But Saint-Andre has warned his side face an even tougher test than that which faced them in the North East.

"We started well with a victory at Newcastle but Saracens will be very tough," he said. "It will be a big challenge for us as I thought Saracens were unlucky to lose against Harlequins. I have watched the video and for a lot of the game they were on top and they have some top-class players.

"When you win away I like to say that you have a small joker and it would be good if we could keep this joker in our pocket for a long, long time.

"Looking back at the way we played at Newcastle, I would like us to try and keep the ball a little bit more tonight. All my players know they need to be at the top of their game to keep their place in the team."

Sale Sharks: Tait, Lamont, McAlister, Bell, Doherty, Hodgson, Wigglesworth, Sheridan, Bruno, Roberts, Jones, Cockbain, Abraham, Cox, Chabal. Replacements: Briggs, Faure, Schofield, Ormsby, Peel, Cueto, Ripol