Premiership rugby union predictions, betting tips and odds: Sale have the edge at home

Where to watch Friday's Premiership action

Sale Sharks vs Bristol
TNT Sports 1, 7.45pm

Newcastle Falcons vs Gloucester
TNT Sports Extra, 7.45pm

Best bet

Sale -9
2pts 10-11 general

Premiership predictions

There's a huge battle in the race for playoff positions in the Premiership on Friday evening and Sale can make the best of home advantage to leapfrog Bristol into third place.

Bristol have never been out of the top four since the start of the season and they responded to back-to-back defeats with a 36-14 win over Bath at Cardiff's Principality Stadium last week.

But the Bears were up against a second-string Bath outfit and face a much tougher test at Sale, who pushed second-placed Leicester all the way last week before being overhauled in the final quarter to lose 44-34 and end a four-match winning run.

Sale have lost only once in the Premiership at home this season - to runaway leaders Bath - and while all-action Bristol continue to rack up tries and points at a remarkable rate, they were nilled at home by Sale in December.

That was one of only two matches this season in which the Bears have failed to secure a try bonus point and the home side's defensive discipline, tied in with the pragmatic kicking game of George Ford, could prove a key factor again.

It has been all or nothing for Bristol in the second half of their campaign - they have won four of their last eight matches, all by a double-figure margin, and lost other four by nine points or more - and Sale look the best bet to continue their charge into the playoffs.

Gloucester have only an outside chance of making the playoff party and they will see a bonus-point win as an essential target on their trip to bottom side Newcastle.

The Falcons have lost their last nine Premiership matches, seven of them by a double-figure margin, and are given a 15-point handicap start.

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