Sale boss Steve Diamond admits its a case of win or bust when the Sharks square to Agen in France tomorrow.

The Amlin Cup group clash in southern France has turned into a virtual shoot-out with both clubs having already tasted defeat by Brive.

It means the stakes are deliciously simple for Sale.

Win and they can look forward to a return clash with Agen in Stockport next week knowing their Amlin fate is still in their own hands.

Lose and all hopes of a third European Challenge Cup triumph for the Sharks will be extinguished – a point that’s not lost on the club’s executive director of sport.

However, Sale travelled out to the continent today (Wednesday) buoyed by the huge confidence boost of a 16-13 win at Bath last weekend.

And Diamond believes that if his players adopt the same mentality they showed at the Rec at the Stade Armandie they can prosper again.

"This week especially is the big game in terms of the overall group," Diamond declared.

"Win this and they are out of it and they won’t travel strongly away from home when they visit us next weekend and it will also give us good confidence going forward into our Premiership game at home to Newcastle on Boxing Day. As was the case before our trip to Bath last weekend, the message to the players will again be about getting back to basics and about concentrating on our defence.

"I’d rather win some games over the next four weeks with just two or three points within them rather than high scoring affairs where we leave ourselves exposed.

"That doesn’t mean we’re going to stop playing the way we do. We’ve just got to keep our confidence and we’ll do that by reverting to the basics of the game and getting them right and then let’s see where we’re at.

"What we’re after is consistency and if we can win away again it will just build our momentum."

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