By Bryn Palmer

Jones has not featured since the first game of the 2005 Six Nations

Sale's "Mr Versatile" Chris Jones hopes to use Saturday's Premiership final against Leicester as a springboard to relaunch his stalled England career.

The 25-year-old won five caps in 2004 and a sixth last year against Wales, but has yet to add to his tally.

"It has been very frustrating," he told BBC Sport. "I just want another chance.

"Hopefully that will come on the tour to Australia as there are a lot of new players going. I'm hoping Andy Robinson will try out a few, including me."

Jones, who can play anywhere in the second or back rows, was a replacement for the autumn Tests against Australia and New Zealand but stayed on the bench.

He remained a part of England's Six Nations training squad, but while Charlie Hodgson, Mark Cueto and Andrew Sheridan were selected, Jones headed back to the north-west.

"You spend half the week hoping you are playing for England," he said. "Then suddenly you get the nod to go and you have to get on a plane, get your Sale head back on and try to perform at the weekend."

Jones was one of those who kept the Sale ship afloat this season while their internationals were away, helping them stay top of the Premiership for virtually the entire season.

While his versatility is a bonus for the Sharks, he accepts that "potentially" it may not have helped his England prospects.

Jones started Sale's semi-final win at lock before moving to flanker

"Against Wasps I played in the second row but ended up at seven, the week before I started at seven, and during the Six Nations I was at six or eight," he reflected.

"It has been pretty hectic but I think I have handled it quite well. I don't think it has held me back.

"The way I used to play was very loose and open when I was in the back row. Then I moved to the second row and concentrated on my tight game, which has definitely improved a lot.

"Overall my game has improved but I would like to solidify a single position and make it my own.

"With England maybe in the back of peoples' minds they know I can play four or five positions. If I can concentrate on one then maybe Andy will let me perform in that position."

Asked to select his preferred option, Jones says he would "like to end up as a six or eight", where he can "run around and get my hands on the ball a bit more".

But with Scotland captain Jason White and piratical Frenchman Sebastien Chabal generally preferred at blind-side and number eight for Sale, Jones cannot be too choosey.

I have got my fingers crossed they might try me at number eight Chris Jones

The immediate future with England, however, does off a glimmer of light.

With captain Martin Corry and Lawrence Dallaglio both missing the Australia tour and Gloucester's James Forrester only deemed worthy of Churchill Cup duty, there are no recognised number eights in the party.

Tour captain Pat Sanderson will play there against the Barbarians on Sunday, while Joe Worsley has also played there for England in the past, with limited success.

But as both are more natural flankers and the other back-rowers are open-sides Lewis Moody, Magnus Lund and Michael Lipman, Jones may get a run at number eight.

"I am not too sure where they are thinking of playing me," he said. "But I have got my fingers crossed they might have a bit of faith and try me out at number eight."

With only three specialist second-rows (Louis Deacon, Alex Brown and Ben Kay) in the squad though, Robinson may equally view Jones as a spring-heeled lock.

Either way, a big performance at Twickenham on Saturday will do him no harm.