Currently second in the table following the 31-3 floodlit victory against Esher last time out, the Berkshire men are one point below table-topping Richmond as the season is set to resume following a three-week break.

And the unmatched prop, who now has an extraordinary 428 first-team league caps to his name, is excited to keep adding to his tally as the campaign continues.

He explained: “It was nice to have the break – it’s always great to recharge the batteries and spend time with family, but now it’s time to get back into things.

“The three losses in a row were a downer after our start, but getting the win before the Christmas period massively boosted spirits and has reinvigorated us for what hopefully can be a successful second half of the season.”

Despite being in his 22nd season in the first-team, last year’s National One Team of the Season tight-head continues to shine, missing only two of 14 games to date and relishing the chance to work with young props like Paddy Harris, Ryan Lomas, Liam Bishop, Nick Barry and Ioan Emanuel.

“Of the two I missed the first (against Esher) I was ill and the other (at Bishop’s Stortford) I had a minor niggle, so that was precautionary, but overall, I’m feeling good.

“Hopefully it stays the same for the rest of the season, and, who knows, maybe another if they want me to keep going.

“I find the other props inspirational because I’ve got to try and stay on top, be in peak condition and at the height of my form.

“But it’s also good to see the new guys coming up, and if there’s any time when they want a bit of advice on anything then I’m more than happy to give it to them.”

The last act of the Esher success was a 97th penalty try for the club in league action, plenty set-up by Baker’s extraordinary scrummaging ability, but while it was the second of this term, the first he had been on the pitch for.

He joked: “I haven’t had one for a while, so to get one was very pleasing – if we can keep getting a couple every season hopefully it will stay near the top of the all-time list!”

With the weather up north having already delivered and snow and freezing temperatures this week, Sale’s volunteer army have been at hard at work to get Saturday’s game on, with Baker concluding by saying his side must remain laser-eyed as they look to back up one of their best displays of recent years in the 33-0 home success back in September.

He ended: “You can’t think about the conditions, and we’ll have to keep them out of the equation, because we know they’ll be looking to make a point.

“We’ll need to produce the same performance we had at home earlier in the season, but if we can keep the mentality, the intensity and be refreshed after Christmas – we’ve had a couple of extra training sessions – then hopefully we can go well.”