NEW ground, old duck – neither matters at Sale tonight, believes Carl Hogg.
Gloucester's assistant coach reckons Sale's new Salford City Stadium home will have no effect on the crucial Premiership clash (kick-off 7.45pm).
In ten attempts Gloucester never won at Edgeley Park, mustering one solitary draw and nine galling defeats.
The Cherry and Whites had boasted three consecutive league victories at Heywood Road, before Sale made the switch to share Stockport County's ground.
The Edgeley era holds hardly any happy memories for the men from Kingsholm.
And few of those heading up to Manchester from Gloucestershire today will lament the Sharks' ground switch.
But the Cherry and Whites cannot use any of that background noise to their advantage, asserts former Scotland back-rower Hogg.
He explained: "The ground change won't have any impact on the contest.
"It's the approach, attitude and accuracy that count.
"They might have a new ground, but nothing about the challenge changes.
"All the reasons that have contributed to that previous record, they remain valid.
"But this contest is unique in its own right, and so we don't worry about any of that.
"What's important is us, our approach and how we hit back from last week's defeat to Biarritz."
Win tonight and Gloucester can take a giant step towards securing Heineken Cup rugby for next term, and also sustain their top-four play-off push.
Victory for Sale, coupled with defeat this weekend for London Welsh, would secure the Sharks' Premiership safety.
And Hogg has warned Gloucester to respect the challenge tonight.
He continued: "Give Sale respect, they have built some consistency, they have some quality individuals and they are playing with a little bit more confidence now.
"But tonight's about what we can do, about putting our game on the field.
"We know they are three massive games, and starting at Sale it's a critical game for us.
"But every league game throughout the season ends up having a massive bearing.
"Just because we are coming to the crunch it doesn't mean that anything really changes.
"This is the chief ambition we've had all season.
"Now we get close to it, we just have to continue battling for what we've been after every time we've taken the field, whether we've found it or not."
