'It's going to be epic!' - Vesty 'can't wait' for Saints' clash with Sale Sharks

The black, green and gold welcome Alex Sanderson's men to cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens with both teams on a high after positive Investec Champions Cup results last weekend.

Saints brushed Vodacom Bulls aside, winning 50-5 at the Gardens on Sunday, with Sale claiming a hugely impressive 35-14 win at Clermont Auvergne a day earlier.

And ahead of this week's clash with the Sharks, Saints head coach Vesty said: "It's going to be epic! I can't wait!

"The festive crowd means it's always a cracking game, a great atmosphere and you couldn't want a better opposition than a quality Sale team who are just going to want to come and have an absolute scrap.

"I'm looking forward to it."

Discussing the danger Sale, who are seventh in the PREM, will pose, Vesty said: "They've played well in Europe and I think their attack has improved a good bit.

"They've got some really dangerous players in their back three and you've got the likes of (George) Ford on the ball, Raffi Quirke is dangerous.

"They're a very good outfit and they're on the up after a good start to their European campaign."

So what can Saints do to combat a reinvigorated Sale side?

"We need to execute our game plan and be the best us," Vesty said.

"We want to be the most physical us, which is what we say every week.

"We know the specific challenges they're going to come with and it's probably quite good that we've played against Pau and the Bulls because they're physical packs that want to test you and compete at absolutely everything.

"We've done an okay job there but we know where we need to improve."