Is Muir putting his money where his mouth is?

Sharks coach Dick Muir says that he's considering taking a bet on his team.

With Ladbrokes pricing the Sharks as 9/1 favourites to lift the Super 14 title this year the Sharks mentor admitted that those odds were just too good to resist.

"I like those odds, I might just take a bet," said Muir after Sharks practice this week.

The Crusaders (5/2) from New Zealand have been tipped to win the tournament, while defending champions, the Bulls and Blues are rated as joint second favourites with odds of 4/1.

The Sharks have the fourth best chance of capturing the silverware according to the bookies. "I suppose they are fair because the guys pricing up are looking at our squad and assessing some of the experience we've lost and the draw we have," Muir added.

With Springboks John Smit, Butch James and Percy Montgomery all going overseas, along with the likes of Warren Britz and Grant Rees who are also abroad, the coastal franchise has lost some of its depth.

The Sharks draw has also not been the kindest, with the team having to cross the Tasman twice and spend five weeks in Australasia playing the Crusaders, Highlanders, Hurricanes, Brumbies and Waratahs.

Despite all of this, Muir has kept his quixotic demeanour and speaks of a tour from heaven, even though it does appear to be penned in hell. "Look we've lost experience and we have a lot of young guys. With youth comes exuberance and we're excited about the tournament."

Casting his mind to the tour Muir said: "Yes, it will be a tough tour but you have to play those games home or away and you don't have control of the draw.

But, what you do have control of is your planning and we have planned really well for the tour. At the Sharks we also enjoy our tours and we are looking forward to it already."

The Sharks play two friendlies before they kick-off against the Western Force on Friday night on February 15.

The Sharks first head to Bloemfontein to play the Central Cheetahs on February 1 before playing the Lions in Durban on February 6.

Muir said he would look to rest a few of Springboks against the Cheetahs but likely play his strongest line up against the Lions.