Sarries are first visitors to Salford (From Messenger Newspapers)

Sarries are first visitors to Salford

4:29pm Wednesday 4th July 2012 in Sport

SALE Sharks will open the new season to the strains of the 'Tomahawk Chop' when they travel to Sandy Park, Exeter, to face the Chiefs in the opening match on Saturday September 1.

Saracens will be the first League visitors to the new Salford City Stadium the following weekend, with Charlie Hodgson and former Wigan Warrior Chris Ashton set to make a return to the North West.

A visit to The Twickenham Stoop the following weekend to face champions Harlequins means that the Sale Sharks supporters will be making their two longest domestic trips within the first three fixtures.

Premiership newcomers London Welsh visit Barton in Round 4, with games at Bath and home to Leicester Tigers following. Worcester Warriors, Dean Schofield's new club, provide the festive opposition four days after Christmas Day.

The full Aviva Premiership fixture list shows all games as Saturdays. Some of these dates will change when the requirements of television partners and ground availability are established.

Sep. 1 Exeter Chiefs (A) Sep. 8 Saracens (H) Sep.15 Harlequins (A) Sep.22 London Welsh (H) Sep.29 Bath (A) Oct. 6 Leicester Tigers (H) Oct. 27 Worcester Warriors (A) Nov. 3 London Irish (H) Nov.24 Gloucester (A) Dec. 1 Northampton Saints (H) Dec.22 London Wasps (A) Dec.29 Worcester Warriors (H) Jan. 5 Saracens (A) Feb. 9 Exeter Chiefs (H) Feb.16 London Welsh (A) Feb.23 Harlequins (H) Mar. 2 Leicester Tigers (A) Mar.23 Bath (H) Mar.30 London Irish (A) Apr.13 Gloucester (H) Apr.20 Northampton Saints (A) May. 4 London Wasps (H) Details of Sale Sharks’ Heineken Cup games in October, December and January against Toulon, Montpellier and Cardiff Blues have yet to be announced. There are four further weekends in November, January and February allocated for the LV= Cup.

Sharks have announced two home pre-season games: versus Glasgow at Heywood Road on Saturday 18th August (3 p.m.) and back-to-back Heineken Cup holders Leinster at Salford City Stadium on Friday 24th August (8 p.m.).