SANDERSON'S A CHRISTMAS CRACKER

Sharks boss backs Ford & Co to deliver for fans and make that first festive turbo-charged Bucks Fizz taste all the sweeter

- ALEX SPINK

GEORGE FORD goes head-to-head with Owen Farrell when he leads a Sale team gunning for revenge in tonight's Premiership final rematch against Saracens.

Premiership leaders Sale are favourites to beat the champions in their first meeting since the Londoners came from behind at Twickenham in May to win a sixth English title.

Sharks boss Alex Sanderson (below), formerly of Saracens, bills the contest as "ginormously big", and has challenged his players to give a capacity crowd the perfect start to Christmas.

"It's basically one versus two, with only two points separating first and fourth," he said. "At stake are bragging rights, getting the monkey off your back, a sell-out crowd who we want to come back.