SHARKS flaker Michael Hills is approaching Sunday's crucial game against Harlequins as if it were a cup final.
Play-off qualification is on the line when fourth take on fifth at the Stoop, Sale currently trailing their rivals by just a point in the Guinness Premiership.
Whoever wins will effectively earn themselves a place in the postseason and with it, earn a shot at the Premiership crown.
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And after last week's disappointing European Challenge Cup semi-final defeat at Bath, Hills believes the clash with Quins is the most important game of the season so far.
He said: "It was a disappointment to lose in a semi-final, we wanted to perform better than we did.
"Getting into a final and the silverware was a big goal for us but we've just got to put it behind us now because we've got a big game (against Harlequins) this Sunday.
"It's a cup final for us really, we've got to win that game to get into the top four.
"We set a goal at the beginning of the season to get Heineken Cup rugby, we need to be in that top flight competition so it's a big goal for us."
The 22-year-old openside has found progress slow this season, with the likes of Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Magnus Lund standing between him and a regular first team place.
But he has started to see more action of late, including a significant stint during last week's 36-14 defeat to Bath.
Hills was brought on as injuries took their toll on the Sale team and as it became a case of 'needs must', he even finished the game out on the wing.
He added: "I ended up on the wing for 15 minutes at the end and it is hard when that happens.
"It's difficult when you're slotted into different positions.
"Running lines are all different per position on each move that you do so it is difficult to suddenly swap into another position, it's not just a case of swapping into a different role and getting away with it.
"It's difficult breaking into the team but, obviously, everyone's got to start from the bottom and work their way up bit by bit.
"You learn from the other players, get on when you can and take every game as experience to pick up whatever you can.
"It's a challenge but that's the way professional sport is. You always want to challenge the best and Maggie (Magnus Lund) and Juan (Fernandez Lobbe) are both internationals so it's great for me to challenge myself against them."
Enjoying his role as a first team squad member, Hills also said that team spirit at Edgeley Park is outstanding.
"It's been an indifferent season," he said.
"We've lost some games we should have won but then we've also pulled out wins when we had no right to really.
"The spirit keeps the boys going. We're a close-knit team, we all get on together and socialise together, it's a really good atmosphere here."
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