Sale Sharks v Leeds Carnegie: Cautious approach essential says Key

Leeds head across the Pennines tonight mindful that, with games running out, they need to start winning quickly if they are to avoid being cut adrift at the foot of the table.

They earned a losing bonus-point courtesy of a marvellous defensive stand against champions Leicester last Sunday, but it was their attacking choices that left the Headingley Carnegie crowd questioning their ambition.

On one particular early phase, after they had stolen a lineout deep inside the Leicester 22 and forced a penalty in front of the posts, they opted to take the points on offer instead of kicking for touch and trying to drive the ball over for a try.

But director of rugby Key, whose side would move level on points with Worcester with a first five-point victory of the season tonight, says that has nothing to do with a whitewash fear factor.

"We have to be careful because our aim is to build a side and a squad that is capable of winning," said Key, who described the side's defensive performance last Sunday as outstanding.

"We'd love to be able to be as entertaining and free-flowing as a Northampton or a Leicester, but we have to work within our strengths.

"We have proved this season that we can score tries and we have the ability to attack teams. But you don't always approach games in the same manner.

"For instance the Leicester game we had to approach differently because we knew they would be good on the counter attack.

"You think back to the London Irish game when we attacked and went for tries and they really punished us.

"Opting to kick for the points instead of for an attacking lineout is nothing to do with confidence, it's about putting a game plan together that hopefully allows us to win."

A home victory at Edgeley Park tonight would almost ensure another season in the Premiership for Sale, who currently flounder in 10th place, eight points clear of Leeds.

It would also further highlight their win at Headingley in November – when they scored 21 unanswered points in the final quarter to snatch the win – as a pivotal moment in Leeds's season.

"That first game against Sale was probably our best first-half performance of the season, and even the first 20 minutes of the second half were good," reflected Key.

"Then we became too reserved and stopped playing the rugby that had helped us to get to that stage.

"We have made strides as a side since then, and that defensive performance last weekend showed that."

With no major injury concerns following the defeat to Leicester, Key and Neil Back have named an unchanged team.

The entire 23-man squad that was selected last week to face Leicester have been retained which means hooker Andy Titterrell will face his former club.

Titterrell made 122 appearances for the Sharks in seven seasons, helping the club to their only Premiership title in 2006.

Sale coach Kingsley Jones says Sale have to tighten up in terms of their technical discipline following last weekend's 22-16 defeat against Wasps.

"There were a couple of obvious penalties given to Wasps," he said.

"It felt like three points dropped, not one point gained, to be honest.

"I have explained to the players this week exactly what is required of them in the tackle area etc. We work very hard to make sure it is clear regarding what they are allowed to do and what they are not allowed to do."

Jones hands a home debut to ex-Wales wing Dafydd James while James's former Test team colleague Dwayne Peel also starts in a side that sees Sale prop Gavin Kerr facing his old club.