Sale have Scotland international lock Richie Grey back as they continue the search for a maiden Premiership win.

The Sharks, under the charge of chief executive Steve Diamond following Bryan Redpath's move from director of rugby to head coach on Wednesday, also have scrum-half Dwayne Peel on the bench.

London Irish winger Marland Yarde returns as Sailosi Tagicakibau moves to centre in place of Jonathan Joseph.

Scott Lawson comes in at hooker for David Paice, who is away with England.

After dismissing Redpath from his director of rugby role earlier this week, before once more taking the reins himself, Diamond has a lot to prove.

The fixture represents the Sharks' best chance of claiming four points in the foreseeable future, as they host a London Irish team that has only two wins.

But the Exiles will be no pushovers, having run Premiership leaders Harlequins extremely close last weekend.

If Sale do not emerge on top they face an arduous trip to Kingsholm and must host Northampton in their November Premiership fixtures.

With back-to-back Heineken Cup games against Toulon following in December - the task ahead of Diamond's men could start to look ominous.

FRIDAY NIGHT'S LINE-UPS

Sale: Macleod; Cueto, Leota, Tuitupou, Shepherd; Cipriani, Willis; Harrison, Taylor, Buckley; Gray, McKenzie; Vernon, Seymour (capt), Powell.

Replacements: Ward, Lewis-Roberts, Cobilas, Myall, Easter, Peel, Miller, Brady.

London Irish: Watson; Ojo, Armitage, Tagicakibau, Yarde; Humphreys, Allinson; Lahiff, Lawson, Aulika; Evans, Garvey; Danaher (capt), Gibson, Hala'ufia.

Replacements: Blaney, Griffiths, Halavatu, Skivington, Treviranus, Shingler, Geraghty, Moates.