Sale's win over Bristol took them up to third in the Premiership with one game to go. Victory away to Exeter Chiefs in their final game will assure them of a play-off spot for a third consecutive season, with all of those finishes since Ford joined the club from Leicester Tigers. If Sale do make the play-offs, it would also keep the tantalising possibility of a clash between them and Bath - and a battle of the number 10s with Ford against Russell. For captain Curry, having someone like Ford, a veteran of 98 England caps, makes his job easier. "Fordy is a little cheat code," he said. "For me being captain, life is so easy - you just sit back and let him do his thing. "He is unbelievable. It's not just his rugby or what he says on the pitch. He is a proper standard-bearer, he just seems to get it right. "I don't think there are many players in the world like him. "Everyone keeps talking about how good George is, but he needs more recognition."