At the halfway stage of a qualifying pool that was termed `The Group of Death' when first unveiled last summer, Sale are in top spot, a point ahead of reigning cup holders.
But if they are to keep alive their dreams of reaching the last eight, the Sharks must follow up last Friday's emphatic win over Montauban in France on Saturday, when they play the return fixture.
And if Sale are to prevail, their director of rugby says should they follow the example of Argentine forward Lobbe, who has been a revelation since being awarded the captaincy in August.
"I signed Juan just after we were English champions in 2006. We knew then he had fantastic potential and he's grown each year he has been with us," said Saint-Andre.
"He's a fantastic leader; he has a lot of charisma and last week at home to Montauban he was magnificent and gave a real captain's performance, scoring two tries and creating another.
Mature
"In every area, Juan is doing a superb job for us. He's more mature now and is probably playing the best rugby of his career.
"Everybody at the club totally respects him and every- body listens to him . . . he's just a fantastic guy."
Sale's qualification hopes received a twin boost last weekend in the shape of a bonus point 36-6 trouncing of Montauban followed by Munster's surprise defeat at the hands of Clermont Auvergne.
And the Sharks boss wants his men to ensure they don't throw away their advantage.
"Getting our bonus point win and then seeing Munster lose last weekend was a huge boost but it will be tough and much harder this weekend for us," Saint-Andre added.
"Montauban are a very good team at home and I think they will be some changes from the team that played at Edgeley Park but if we can manage to win we can go to Munster next month in really good shape.
"It's a big, big game and if we can get the win for the players, for the fans it will really set up the trip to Limerick."
The ankle ligament injury to Rory Lamont along with Carl Fearns' absence on England Under-20s duty means Saint-Andre will be forced to make changes to a squad that flew out to France on Wednesday.
However, flanker Luke Abrahams is fit again after recovering from a hand injury while fellow forward Jason White has also travelled after being a late absentee last week due to his wife Bev giving birth to a baby girl.
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