With another huge weekend of sporting action upon us, Sports Mole picks out three figures who will be in the spotlight over the coming days.
1. Steven Gerrard
The tributes for the outgoing Liverpool skipper have been pouring in all week, so it is easy to forget that Gerrard will merely be plying his trade in a different country, rather than packing in the game altogether. Of course, moving to the States often signals the beginning of the end for most great players, but the former England international still has plenty more to offer.
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His Anfield career appeared to be going out with something of a whimper at one stage, with a red card against Manchester United and a niggling injury appearing to stall his great goodbye. But in typical fashion, Gerrard has found the net twice in his last two outings, and if his previous achievements at the club are anything to go by, you would not bet against him rounding off his Reds career with another against Crystal Palace this weekend.
Having himself admitted that he may struggle to keep his emotions in check when the final whistle blows, it is likely to be an emotional evening on Merseyside as the Premier League waves goodbye to one of its all-time great players. Liverpool's loss could now very well be Los Angeles Galaxy's gain although, with a loan return to the club he has spent the last 28 years at also potentially on the cards, it is fair to say that we may not yet have seen the end of Gerrard.
2. Mark Cueto
While Mr Liverpool may be playing out the latter years of his career abroad, another imposing English sporting figure in Cueto is calling time on his profession for good. Whichever way you look at it, the 35-year-old has certainly made his impact on the world of rugby en route to securing his name in Sale Sharks folklore.
Like Gerrard, Cueto has also spent his entire playing days with one side, racking up an impressive tally on 90 tries during his time at the AJ Bell Stadium. That is a total unmatched by anyone else in Aviva Premiership history, with two of those tries coming in the past few weeks. That suggests that the one-club man is going out on a high, admitting himself this week that his emotions are currently all over the place.
In an interview with Sports Mole earlier this year, the one-time capped British and Irish Lions winger stressed the importance of seeing out his Sale days on a high by helping the club secure a top-six spot. Just four points is the difference between Wasps in that final European Champions Cup berth and the Sharks heading into the final round of fixtures, meaning that Cueto may yet get his wish against Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.
3. Rob Baxter
That match at Sandy Park has an awful lot riding on it, because it is not just Sale who head into the final match of the campaign with something to play for. Exeter harbour strong hopes of finishing in the playoff zone, and they currently lead the way thanks to their Thomas Waldrom-inspired victory at Saracens last time out.
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Baxter has described the Sale game as the "biggest" in the Devon club's history, with a first ever semi-final spot up for grabs should they get the job done on home soil and other results go their way. Exeter are currently locked level on 63 points with Saracens, while Leicester Tigers sit just one point ahead.
It means that the regular season could very well come down to the final seconds, but should Baxter's men remain in with a shot then they will have to improve on the performance that saw them thrashed 55-12 against Sale at the tail end of last season, and at the same time avenge their 18-11 reverse against the same opponents earlier this term. Each side will feel the pressure bearing down on them, but only two can join Northampton Saints and Bath Rugby in the end-of-season playoffs.
