Christian Wade starts on the wing for Newcastle as he closes in on the Prem’s all-time try-scoring record.
Wade scored his 100th Prem try in their last outing against Exeter, meaning he is one off equalling Chris Ashton’s record of 101 or two from breaking it.
Centre Will Rigg returns from an injury that has kept him out since early September, while full-back Josh Hodge similarly makes his first Prem start after recovering from a broken hand.
Meanwhile Sale start with brothers Tom and Ben Curry in their back row for the first time since June 2025 as they make four changes to their line-up.
Tom Curry has played just three games since February – including one for England A this summer – but returns days before head coach Steve Borthwick is due to name his England squad for this autumn.
Ben Curry makes his first league start of the campaign after missing almost all of last season with a hamstring issue. Christ Tshiunza joins them in the back row and Tom O’Flaherty starts on the wing.
Newcastle: Hodge; Wade, Harris, Rigg, Kok; Connon, Benitez Cruz; Rakete-Stones, McGuigan, Millar Mills; Usher, Jordan, Hicks, Christie (c), Sotutu.
Replacements: Togiatama, West, Moreno, Tuima, Leatherbarrow, Graham, Elliott, Henry.
Sale: Carpenter; Roebuck, Marchant, Ma’asi-White, O’Flaherty; Ford, Hanson; Smith, Cowan-Dickie, Francis; Van Rhyn (c), Bamber, Tshiunza, B. Curry, T. Curry.
Replacements: Jibulu, McIntyre, Opoku-Fordjour, Canakaivata, Dugdale, Lozowski, Louw, Reed.