But full-back Tom Homer, a February arrival from London Irish, drags his kick slightly and it drifts wide of the posts. We're still to get off the mark here at The Rec.

The home side are easing there way through the phases but the Sharks are holding firm. As I say that, Tommy Taylor finds himself in an offside position at the breakdown and this'll be Bath's first chance for points, from a tightish angle.

Now then, the Blue, Black and Whites have a line-out deep in enemy territory. Here comes the rolling maul. Bath are inside the Sale 22...

This has been a scrappy old opening six minutes, so while we wait for things to properly get going we'll leave you to enjoy this rather lovely picture from earlier this evening...

Image source, PA

David Wilson
Bath and England prop on BBC Radio Bristol

"It went down to the ground, and we got the rub of the draw which is a good sign for the game. If he's giving us penalties that easily, that is good for us."

Loving the honesty from Mr. Wilson there.

After a reset, Sale infringe and Bath have themselves a penalty, which they'll kick for touch. Meanwhile, Josh Beaumont is on as a blood replacement for Nathan Hines.

Former British & Irish Lion Bill Beaumont, Josh's dad, is in the crowd watching tonight.

Terrific work from the away side in the immediate aftermath, ripping the ball from the grasp of Carl Fearns as Bath charge forward.

But Danny Cipriani, in the thick of the action already, pokes a little grubber straight through and out of play and so we'll have a first scrum of the night.

Wayne Barnes is our referee this evening - his 150th appearance in the Premiership.

His whistle is the cue for Sale fly-half Danny Cipriani to kick long and we're under way.

The Rec sounds in fine voice as the two sets of players make their way onto the field. Bath, as you'd expect, are in their familiar blue, black and white, while Sale Sharks are in their change strip of red and white.

Kick off is just a couple of moments away.

We've been asking who you would like see England to recall for next weekend's match against Scotland in the Six Nations, and here are some of the replies.

James Paul Robinson:, external Courtney Lawes all day!!

Mikey Clarkson:, external Sam Burgess needs to start for England despite his slow start for Bath as once he gets to grips with union he will be brilliant.

Eric Wilson:, external Jeremy Guscott.

Jeremy, if you're reading, can we tempt you?...

Sale Sharks: Haley; Arscott, Leota, Tuitupou, Cueto; Cipriani, Cusiter; Lewis-Roberts, Taylor, Cobilas, Mills, Hines, Braid (capt), Seymour, Lund.

Replacements: Neild, Flynn, Harrison, Beaumont, Ioane, Cliff, Ford, Brady.

Bath: Homer; Rokoduguni, Burgess, Eastmond, Woodburn; Devoto, Cook; Auterac, Webber, Thomas, Hooper (capt), Day, Garvey, Louw, Fearns.

Replacements: Batty, Lahiff, Palma-Newport, Fa'osiliva, Mercer, Young, Banahan, Arscott.

Image source, Getty Images

It's probably fair to describe fly-half Danny Cipriani as the standout selection at The Rec tonight, starting for Sale Sharks following his release from England duty.

Elsewhere, David Seymour comes in for Josh Beaumont and Tommy Taylor replaces Marc Jones, who took a heavy knock in the loss at Leicester last weekend.

Bath aren't exactly short of backline talent themselves, with cross-code duo Sam Burgess and Kyle Eastmond again lining up at centre for the Blue, Black and Whites.

Mike Ford has made a total of five changes to the side beaten at Exeter, as Chris Cook returns at scrum-half, Ollie Devoto starts at fly-half and Henry Thomas is back at prop.

Image source, Getty Images

Sale Sharks, who finished sixth last season, have again been threatening to break into the Premiership's top four this time around - but are again in danger of falling at the final hurdle.

Steve Diamond's men have dropped to seventh following their defeat by Leicester last week, and the former hooker is well aware they need to stay in touch with the chasing pack.

"We're still only four points off second so we need to get something out of tonight's game," he told BBC Radio Manchester.

"And despite the poor recent run they have been on, Bath are still a formidable side so we have got our hands full tonight."

Image source, Getty Images

Sporting arenas don't come much prettier and picturesque than Bath's Recreation Ground, set in the city centre just a stone's throw from the River Avon.

It sounds, quite literally, like a walk in the park for opposition players, doesn't it? Not so, apparently.

"Our support is fantastic, the atmosphere is great and there's something special about Friday nights at The Rec," enthused Bath first-team coach Toby Booth. "It's great for us and makes it tough for the opposition, which makes a big difference."

You say that, Toby, but Bath have won only two of their last five Friday night Premiership games at home.

Image source, Getty Images

As for the backline, should Jonny May make an instant return after being replaced by Jack Nowell for the loss in Dublin? Is it time for Danny Care to come back in from the cold? Or are England missing the fierce defensive abilities of Brad Barritt at centre? Ah, and then there's Danny Cipriani...

The vote, which you can find on the right-hand side of the page (desktop) or via the tab at the top (mobile and tablet), will close at 21:15 GMT and you can click here to read our voting terms and conditions.

Image source, Getty Images

Don't forget there's a vote on!

We're asking which England player would you most like to see recalled to face Scotland in the Six Nations?

So having struggled badly at the breakdown last week, will Alex Corbisiero, Tom Wood or Courtney Lawes of Northampton Saints be in line for a recall? Or perhaps Exeter-bound Leicester Tigers lock Geoff Parling will come back in?

The vote, which you can find on the right-hand side of the page (desktop) or via the tab at the top (mobile and tablet), will close at 21:15 GMT and you can click here to read our voting terms and conditions.

Image source, Getty Images

With only five points separating six sides, from Saracens in second down to Sale Sharks in seventh, the fight for the top four could well turn out to be the most hotly contested of the professional era.

That's certainly the view of Leicester boss Richard Cockerill, whose sixth-placed Tigers have recorded three wins in a row to keep them right in the mix ahead of their showdown against Newcastle Falcons on Sunday.

"It's where you end up after round 22 that's the important bit," he told BBC Radio Leicester. "Being top in December doesn't mean anything.

"It's all to play for and it's going to be probably the tightest finish since the Premiership started."

Wasps face the biggest examination of their unbeaten Ricoh Arena record to date on Sunday when they take on Saracens.

Second-placed Sarries have finished top of the Premiership standings in each of the last two seasons, but are already 12 points adrift of current leaders Northampton.

As a result, even their spot in this year's play-offs is far from guaranteed and Wasps, with just one win in their last 10 meetings against Saracens, are level on points with them in fourth.

No surprises then that Wasps boss Dai Young has described this one as a "massive game for both teams".

Image source, Getty Images

One man who, on the face of it, does appear to have slipped out of England contention is Northampton Saints scrum-half Lee Dickson.

The 29-year-old has not featured in this year's Six Nations, with the last of his 18 Test caps coming last summer.

"I've spoken to the England staff a couple of times," Dickson told BBC Radio Northampton. "They're happy with how I'm playing - they think I'm playing very well.

"For reasons that they have, they've gone for Ben Youngs and Richard Wigglesworth. I have to take that on the chin and adapt and react to that."