RICHARD HILL is calling on the Memorial Stadium crowd to inspire Bristol to their first win of the season tonight (7.45pm).

Bristol expect a crowd of 7,000 – including few away fans – when they clash with third placed Sale Sharks in the Guinness Premiership.

"We are hoping to get a big crowd, all of Bristolians, cheering the team on and really encouraging the team to get their first win," said the Bristol head coach.

"The crowd should all be Bristolians. There's no excuses – get right behind the players. We need one win now to lift the confidence of everybody.

"I would not imagine too many people are going to make the journey from Manchester on a Friday night.

"When Sale played on a Friday night against Saracens last week there was a big crowd behind them and that gave them a big lift."

Hill has wielded the axe after suffering defeats in the opening two league matches, against Bath and Harlequins.

Centre Kevin Maggs, back row forward Andrew Blowers, prop Mark Irish and new signing, second row Robert Sidoli, cannot find a place on the bench.

Centre Ed Barnes, loosehead prop Alex Clarke, scrum-half Graeme Beveridge and flanker Alfie To'oala make their first starts of the season, while No 8 Dan Ward-Smith wins a recall.

And Hill hopes his much-changed team and a hard week of training will shore up a defence that has leaked eight tries already.

He added: "We have conceded too many tries from the set piece. That's not like us.

"We normally make sides work exceptionally hard to score a try.

"The individuals concerned have been told in no uncertain terms by players and coaches alike that we cannot afford to gift tries to the opposition.

"We didn't make Bath or Harlequins work hard for their tries. Both of them thought Christmas had come early."

Skipper Joe El Abd is calling for an improved display from his charges against a Sale side who are yet to lose this season.

"We were disappointed with our performance against Harlequins. We are under no illusions – we need to improve," said the captain.

"A lot of the errors have come down to individual errors. We need to put things right.

"It's always a physical game when we play Sale. We know what we are going to expect.

"They are a good side and only two years ago won the Premiership title."

Sale bring back England wing Mark Cueto, New Zealand Maori flanker Kristian Ormsby and Wales No 9 Dwayne Peel.

Scotland flanker Jason White has been named on the bench but faces a late fitness test.

France No 8 Sebastien Chabal will again captain the side in the absence of Argentina flanker Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe.

Bristol: L Arscott; T Arscott, N Brew, E Barnes, D Lemi; A Jarvis, G Beveridge; A Clarke, S Linklater, J Hobson, M Sambucetti, N Budgett, A To'oala, J El Abd (capt), D Ward-Smith. Reps: D Blaney, P Bracken, R Winters, R Pennycook, H Thomas, V Lilo, G Barden.

Sale:M Tait: M Cueto, L McAlister, L Thomas, R Lamont; C Hodgson, D Peel; A Sheridan, S Bruno, E Roberts, C Jones, D Schofield, K Ormsby, L Abraham, S Chabal (capt). Reps: N Briggs, S Turner, S Cox, J White, R Wigglesworth, C Bell, O Ripol.

Places are still available for former Bristol prop Dave Hilton's retirement dinner, being at the Marriott Hotel in Old Market a week tomorrow.

Tickets are £65 per head or £650 for a table of 10. To book contact Jim Hanks on 07785 926584 or jhanks@wandsworthgroup.com.