Mark Cueto: Optimistic about survival chances

Mark Cueto believes Sale Sharks have started to "hit the ground running" in their quest for Aviva Premiership survival.

Sale, five points adrift at the basement with eight games left, face another huge encounter on Sunday when they tackle 10th-placed London Welsh in Oxford.

Victory over the Premiership newcomers would strengthen Sale's hopes of remaining in top-flight English rugby, with the Kassam Stadium clash coming just nine days after they beat Exeter.

"Hopefully, if everything goes to plan and we survive, I think we will look back at the end of the season and look at the game against Exeter as the turning point," former England wing Cueto said.

"Momentum and confidence are building. Not that the confidence wasn't there, but you need wins and results to back up that confidence.

"We can sit here after losing a game and say 'we still believe' and everything else, but the bottom line is you need wins to back that up.

"Having said that, each time we seem to close the gap it opens up again the next day. But the most important thing is that we are starting to hit the ground running.

"The confidence is coming and the things that we've been pushing all season are starting to come together. All we can do is look after ourselves."

London Welsh, who have Gavin Henson back on duty at fly-half this weekend, are firmly in the relegation mix themselves, but coach Lyn Jones knows there are many twists and turns still ahead.

"The boys are really looking forward to Sunday's game - there has been a really good atmosphere all week in training," he said. "Sunday is an opportunity for us to try to close the gap on Worcester in the table, but there is still a very long way to go in the season after the Sale game."