By Bryn Palmer

Cueto is in confident mood after his Lions tour of duty

England and Lions wing Mark Cueto believes Sale can improve on last year's third place Premiership finish and sustain a genuine title challenge.

"This is my fifth season with Sale and we have always been there or thereabouts," he told BBC Sport.

"But this year if we knuckle down I think there is definitely a great opportunity to move a step forward.

"We have strengthened the squad and the aim is to get into the top two and qualify for the play-off final."

Sale started last season by winning seven out of their first eight Premiership games, but three successive defeats during the November Test window stalled their momentum.

Cueto was one of five Sharks on England duty, with Scot Jason White and French internationals Sebastien Bruno and Sebastien Chabal also absent.

Premiership Ins and Outs

"What let us down last year was our form over the international period but the coaches have made some great signings for this season," Cueto said.

Among the new arrivals are experienced Wales centre Mark Taylor, powerful Tongan wing Epi Taione and three more Frenchmen in scrum-half Valentin Courrent, fly-half Daniel Larrachea and prop Lionel Faure.

Despite being outside the Elite Player Squad last season, Cueto took to Test rugby like a duck to water, scoring eight tries in his first eight internationals.

Cueto scored 20 tries for Sale, eight for England and three for the Lions

They contributed to a tally of 31 in all for club, country and the Lions, playing in the last Test in New Zealand after a pre-tour call-up to replace the injured Iain Balshaw.

But despite being named in Andy Robinson's elite group of 45 for the coming campaign, Cueto remains cautious about his own position.

"I don't think your can afford to be complacent," he said. "It was a great relief and nice to be named in that original squad, but there is still a hell of a lot of work to do.

"Hopefully I can produce the same form as last year in the early part of the season and give myself a chance to be involved in the autumn Tests."

That process starts on Friday as the Sharks host Newcastle in the opening match of the new Guinness Premiership season.

An early burst of scoring will also give Cueto further bragging rights in his annual wager with Sale team-mates Steve Hanley and Jason Robinson.

"There is always a bit of banter between us as to who will score the most tries and we have a bit of a bet every year," added Cueto, who won it last season.

"'Robbo' has never been close for four years now. He is convinced he is going to win this season but we'll see about that."