Sharks loose forward Nick Hatton believes the challenge of European rugby will bring the best out of the Durban side as they prepare for a tough Investec Champions Cup clash against Sale Sharks in England.

Hatton says the conditions and environment will be vastly different from what the Sharks are used to at Kings Park, but in his mind, that’s exactly what makes the competition so compelling.

“It’s an exciting challenge for us as a group. We’re going to be playing in very different conditions to what we’re used to here in Durban. That’s what makes the Champions Cup so special,” Hatton said.

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Despite travelling north, Hatton is confident the squad selected by head coach JP Pietersen has the depth and quality to be competitive against a seasoned English outfit.

“We have a huge amount of respect for the Champions Cup and we want to deliver our best this weekend. We know it will be a tough challenge to beat a team like Sale on their home ground.”

The Sharks head into the fixture looking to respond after a narrow and frustrating 23-22 defeat to the Lions last weekend – a result Hatton says has already provided valuable lessons.

“We learned a lot of lessons from the disappointing defeat against the Lions. It was just one moment in the 80th minute that cost us the game.”

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However, the loose forward insists the mood in camp remains positive after a focused few days of preparation.

“We know it won’t be easy against Sale, but we’ve had two good days of preparation and we believe we can achieve something very special there.”

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