THERE’S been plenty of positivity in the camp after we qualified for the quarter-finals of the European Rugby Challenge Cup last weekend but we know it’s not job done yet.

It would be great for us as a team to earn a Rodney Parade quarter-final again after home advantage helped us get over the line against Cardiff Blues last season.

To do that we have to go up to Manchester with the same attitude as we have done in Europe over the last two seasons with great wins against Stade Francais, Pau, Newcastle and Castres last week.

We beat Sale in the opening round of the tournament but they will be a much tougher test on their own turf and have brought back plenty of big players since their trip to Newport.

Maybe that will help us – I’ve often written about us relishing that underdog tag. We do want to shake that label off as a region but at times it can be good to play without any pressure and express yourself.

Some of the rugby we have played has been brilliant and that was the case in the first half against Castres when we went into a 24-3 lead. We had a 15-minute spell after the break which did cause a few concerns because of our game management but we got the job done with Ashton Hewitt’s try securing a bonus point.

It was nice to play my part in a bonus point win by spinning over for a try from close range in the first half against Castres. It’s fair to say that I’m not exactly prolific – I only tend to score a try or two every season – but that doesn’t bother me. I’m happy to make tackles and hit rucks to allow others to get over the line and get the desired result.

It’s certainly been a mixed season but we have been positive in Europe and we are proud to have made it through from a tough group containing one English side and two with big budgets from France.

We need to stick with the same approach against Sale this evening and to have a real crack at the Sharks.

I’ve only played them once when we won against the odds in Stockport in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2011, a success that helped us qualify for the semi-finals.

They have some key players but also have a strong driving lineout and we will have to perform better in defence of that part of the game than we have in recent weeks.

A home quarter-final is a massive incentive – it’d be great for us as players and also the commercial department – and that attacking attitude is vital to getting a win that leads perfectly into a big Guinness Pro12 game with Leinster at Rodney Parade a week on Friday.

Hopefully we will enjoy another memorable away win in Europe to give ourselves a Rodney Parade quarter-final to look forward to.