Exeter decide to use the ball and nearly get in, but Kai Horstmann's pass is knocked on by Sale's Tom Arscott and the move breaks down - giving Chiefs a scrum near Sale's 22.

The floor appears to be lava at the AJ Bell. Kick after kick after kick - from both sides.

That's all I can really tell you at the moment...

Sale may be down to 14 men but it doesn't matter as they get onto the scoreboard thanks to a penalty that was placed straight down the middle by AJ MacGinty.

It's been a pretty scrappy start to the match, but Exeter win the first penalty with a very good drive forward. Gareth Steenson gets his kick right this time and they get the chance of a line-out close to the Sale line.

What Gareth Steenson cannot do, AJ MacGinty can.

A superb grubber kick from the Sale number 10 into the corner leaves Exeter with a line-out five metres from their own tryline.

Chiefs deal with the danger, despite an overthrown line-out.

Exeter's Gareth Steenson kicks for territory but gets way too much on it and the ball goes out on the full, giving Sale a chance to take the game to the Chiefs in the opposition half.

Sale's AJ MacGinty gets us under way. Faint drizzle at the AJ Bell Stadium. Will that have any impact on the game?

Former Exeter captain John Lockyer on BBC Radio Devon:

"The pitch looks like it's been narrowed by a metre-and-a-half each side.

"You know the way Exeter play, they get the ball to the two fast wingers.

"That's a little bit of a tactic (from Sale) I'm sure, but I hope it doesn't make any difference to the play."

Earlier this week a plane carrying most of Brazil's Chapecoense football team crashed, leaving 71 people dead. 

Tonight at the AJ Bell, differences in sport are put to one side to remember those who lost their lives in the crash.

Remember, you can follow this game not only via the prose that come from my keyboard, but from the voices of your local BBC radio station as well.

BBC Radio Manchester and BBC Radio Devon are covering the match tonight, so depending on your persuasion, you can choose which to listen to.

Also available is Yorkshire v Bedford courtesy of our friends at BBC Radio Leeds.

Image source, BBC Sport

Exeter's Don Armand plays for the first time since September as the Chiefs make six changes.

Lachie Turner, Geoff Parling, Sam Hill, Carl Rimmer and Greg Holmes all come into Rob Baxter's side.

Centre Hill replaces Ian Whitten, who is about to become a father, while props Rimmer and Holmes replace Ben Moon and Harry Williams.

Former England second-row Parling comes in for Jonny Hill, Turner replaces full-back Phil Dollman who was hurt in their convincing win over Worcester, while Italy back Michele Campagnaro gets his first Premiership involvement of the season having recovered from a hamstring injury.

Sale hooker Rob Webber makes his first Premiership start since he broke his arm on the opening day of the season.

Captain Josh Beaumont moves to lock and Cameron Neild replaces him in the back row, with Johnny Leota and Tom Arscott coming into the back line.

Image source, Getty Images

Exeter’s only previous victory at the AJ Bell Stadium was all the way back in November 2013 and Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter is desperate to change that.

"We probably haven't had the record against Sale that we would like to have and that's because they're a good side and they have a very good record, particularly at home," Baxter told BBC Radio Devon.

"We know it's going to be a challenge. What we have to do is make sure that we give ourselves the best opportunity to win that we can."

Image source, Rex Features

Sale have lost three of their last five Premiership games at home, with only one win in four in the league, leaving them ninth in the table.

Director of rugby Steve Diamond told BBC Radio Manchester:"I'm a bit frustrated as we have let ourselves down in a couple of areas and none of those areas are endeavour and effort. It is a bit of game understanding, game management and skill.

"Every time we've played Exeter they seem to be on form - they're a good side who do the basics well and we need to do that to stand a chance of beating them.

"We need to get a bit of a monkey off our back at home as Saracens and Gloucester have beaten us there in the league, we just need to do our own jobs."

Image source, Rex Features

Alright, Steve! 

Time for a Friday night feast.

Two sides with a reputation for running rugby face off at the AJ Bell Stadium, so stick on the kettle, put your feet up and enjoy our evening of rugby under the cold December sky.

Welcome to our live text of Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs.