ALEX Sanderson recognizes Sale will be underdogs against Racing 92 but hopes the Sharks' character can counteract the "lightning bolts” that could be thrown at them this weekend.
Sale edged out Gallagher Premiership rivals Bristol over two nip-and-tuck legs to reach the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals, where a trip to highly-fancied Racing on Sunday afternoon awaits.
Racing have reached the final of Europe's elite club competition in three of the last six seasons and boasts a star-studded line-up with several France internationals and Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell.
The Top 14 club have stuttered in the knockout rounds in the past but - while Sanderson is braced for their might he insisted Sale thrive under pressure and has tipped them to do so again in Paris.
"Character, fortunately for me, this team have in abundance," Sale's director of rugby said.
"Our chance to be able to show who we are in terms of our character is something that's highly motivating.
This story is from the May 04, 2022 edition of Manchester Evening News.
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This story is from the May 04, 2022 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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