Scarlets have already enjoyed victory over English opposition in the Heineken Champions Cup this season after beating Bath Rugby 23-19 in the pool stage.

The Welsh side face off against Sale at Parc y Scarlets on the weekend of April 2/3/4, with the prospect of an away trip to Gloucester Rugby or La Rochelle in the quarter-finals should they progress.

“It’s always exciting when you have a draw, and look we’re at home which is brilliant,” Delaney pointed out to Scarlets TV.

“I think when you get to these knockout phases, every game is a tough game. Form tends to go out the window.”

Delaney went on to highlight the assets of a Sale side that have looked strong under Paul Deacon, picking out the likes of AJ MacGinty, Marland Yarde and Tom and Ben Curry as key players.

“They’re going to be a real handful,” he acknowledged. “Obviously we’ve been watching how they’ve been going.

“They’re a big side, and they’ve had a bit of a resurgence under a new coach, so it’ll be a tasty challenge for sure.

“There’s a lot of the guys I’m familiar with from working in Super Rugby, but they’ve all been performing.

“Couple of good 10s there, MacGinty plays pretty well for them and Marland Yarde is still scoring tries so they’re a handy outfit.

“When they put the Curry boys back in that mix as well, they’re going to be a real challenge. So we’re excited by that.

“But I think the greatest news is that we’ve got a way forward and a conclusion so all the speculation goes now and we can all worry about what’s going to happen in the games.”

Scarlets head coach Glenn Delaney says his side’s Heineken Champions Cup last 16 draw against Sale Sharks is a “tasty challenge”.