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A crucial fortnight
SHARKS head coach Kingsley Jones believes the next few weeks will be absolutely crucial in determining his side's fate this season.
The Edgeley Park side are currently in the running for both the Guinness Premiership title and the European Challenge Cup but could still feasibly end the season with nothing.
There's even a chance Sale might lose their grasp on a Heineken Cup place, with just 13 points separating the top seven teams.
And after victory over the previous league leaders Gloucester last time out, Sharks face the current table toppers Bath on Friday in what Jones sees as another must-win game.
He told SAM Sport: "It's another top of the table clash. As we said a few weeks ago, we have a run of key games now and this is the second of them, it's crucial we get the right result.
"The defeat we suffered against Worcester last month was terrible but, in a way, losing against them was better than losing one of these games. We learnt some lessons from that.
| “There’s absolutely no point worrying about other results, we just have to worry about us and doing a job for Sale Sharks.” | | Kingsley Jones |
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"Friday's game will be extremely tough though and home advantage means nothing against teams like Bath.
"They are a well drilled, well organised side with strength throughout the forwards and the backs. They deserve to be top of the league.
"The next few weeks will determine the rest of our season."
The current race for a Premiership play-off spot is proving to be one of the most exciting yet and looks poised to go right down to the wire.
Harlequins leapfrogged Sale into the fourth and final spot on Sunday with victory over Bristol but Jones is not worried and insists his players must not worry about other sides' results.
"The players shouldn't have any problem getting themselves up for games like Friday's," he said.
"We need to be fully focussed and fully prepared because anyone can win on any given day in this league, there's not a lot between teams in the Premiership.
"If we win on Friday we'll only be four or five points off top spot and we'll be well within reach of a first or second place finish. But, the thing is, we'll also still be in reach of seventh, so we can't afford too many slip-ups.
"There will be a few shocks along the way between now and the end of the season - for us and for everyone else.
"There's absolutely no point worrying about other results, we just have to worry about us and doing a job for Sale Sharks."
Sharks are hopeful of having Mark Cueto back for Friday's crucial Edgeley Park game after recovering from a pulled hamstring.
But it's not all good news, as they could be without Luke McAlister, who is doubtful with a hand injury, and Andrew Sheridan, who is showing flu-like symptoms.
2:13pm Thursday 27th March 2008
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