This match is always the big one, and this season it is just that bit bigger!. Quins are playing for their best Premiership finish since 1998/99 when they were fourth. Finishing in the top four this year will see Quins take part in the playoffs for the first time. The run in to the end of this seasons Premiership is just too close to call with the top six clubs jockeying for a precious top four finish which any one of them can still achieve. With three games to go, four if you are a Wasp, there are just eight points separating the top six clubs, and just two points separating the top three, which includes Harlequins.

Bonus points are now even more precious. At five o’clock on Sunday afternoon, after a four try, 32-6 victory over Leeds, Quins found themselves in second place in the Premiership, just two points behind leaders Gloucester. They held that position for just over 48 hours until the results of Tuesday nights games came in, which saw two matches between the teams occupying third to sixth places playing. As a result of Bath’s, 26 -12 victory over a second string Leicester XV, Quins slipped to third despite being equal on points, by virtue of Bath winning one more game. That last play of the game that saw Bath score a try at The Stoop and pick up a bonus point cost Quins their second place.

These are balmy days or is that barmy? for both sets of supporters. Third placed Quins have lost once in their last eight premiership games since January, losing to Wasps, in early March yet still picking up a losing bonus point, one of eleven bonus points picked up in this years campaign. London Irish, like Saracens who play Wasps on Saturday, find themselves in the semi finals of The Heineken Cup and will no doubt have one eye on that match against Toulouse at Twickenham next weekend. Irish, however, have lost just once in their last eleven home games at the Madjeski, but the fact that Irish are playing this game on a Saturday afternoon will upset their routine and has to give Quins the slight advantage. This is the first Premiership match Quins will have played in Reading since April 2004, when the result was a 15-15 draw. Since then they have always met at Twickenham Stadium for the away fixture of the London Double Header, where Irish had won both fixtures with Quins in their sabbatical year in ND1 when this tie would have been played in Reading. Of course the Madjeski Stadium holds fond memories for Quins fans as it is the venue of their two European Cup wins in recent years, and they have always faired well when playing at this stadium.

The two teams have already met at Madjeski Stadium this season with Harlequins winning 10-8 in the EDF Energy Cup back in October. Prior to that, they had clashed in the opening weekend of the Guinness Premiership at Twickenham when Harlequins stormed to the top of the table with a fine bonus point 35-27 victory. Any Harlequins v London Irish match has that extra edge to it and there have been some fine games in recent years. Quins have come out victors in their last two Premiership games scoring four tries in both of these matches and the team will be fired up to do the same this weekend to maintain the momentum into their final two difficult matches of the season, at home to Sale and at away at Leicester for the last game. These two sides foundered in their quest mid week, but they have less challenging opposition this weekend and will also be playing to maintain their position to gain a top four finish should either Quins or Wasps slip up Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers will be ready to pounce should they win against Newcastle Falcons and Bristol.

The announcement this week of Steve “when in doubt sign a Samoan” So’oialo, renewing his contract with Quins is further evidence that the future is looking good at Harlequins. Ironically So’oialo started his Quins career in 2004 against London Irish. Quins are losing a handful of players, notably Simon Keogh, the last of the “we re more Irish than the Irish” contingent, Adrian Jarvis and Halaufia who is rumoured to be heading to Reading almost as a swap for the London Irish centre Gonzal Tiesi who joins Harlequins in the summer. “It is positive to see so many of the players wanting to continue to be part of Quins over the next few years. Harlequins are certainly building a strong squad for the future and are looking to improve on this season’s performance.

London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith believes his side will match Toulouse in the Heineken Cup if they can handle Harlequins on Saturday.  Irish had perhaps the easiest route to reach the last four, it is a position they have never been in before. By winning the least challenging Pool they drew a home tie against Perpignan, a team that had already met in the pool. Toulouse will be a massive step up, and maybe a hard match against Quins is what they need to prepare. Smith believes that a top six is definitely possible, but their Premiership performances have been lack lustre, and whilst they have never been candidates for the drop they have lurked above the drop zone for most of the season. How realistic Smith is about this finish is debatable, he has said that last weekend’s win against Newcastle as points dropped rather than gained having missed out on a winning bonus point, but for a team that regularly fails to collect bonus points it is totally unrealistic to state that a top six finish is possible. Irish squandered another opportunity last weekend for a significant away victory at Newcastle. Despite coming away with four points following their 13-8 win, the Irish fans felt that they had thrown away an opportunity. Smith added "I'm disappointed with aspects of the precision of things that we did [against Newcastle]," he said. "There was no problem with the endeavour but we lacked accuracy and that was a little bit disappointing. We were a bit off the pace but no real harm was done."  Yet the Irish board reveals some disillusionment as one posting reads “This season we have got 5 losing bonus points - hurrah! However, our try scoring bonus is fairly miserable. Yet again Brian Smith gives a post match interview of a "missed opportunity". This is after we won loads of ball up front and BS invested heavily in backs last summer (and a forward scored the two tries).”

Unlike last year, London Irish are just not a top six side this season. they are seven points adrift from Leicester, and don t look as if they will make up that deficit. The only way they will qualify for the Heineken Cup next season will be to win it .This competition is all London Irish have to play for this season

Harlequins will feel confident of another win this weekend. Confidence is very high, but there is no complacency as the team know they have to win this weekend and next at home to Sale as they want to secure a play off spot before their last game of the season away at Leicester. Will Skinner whose try clinched this weeks bonus point, said this week “ we are a team on form at the moment and other teams are starting to respect us more than in the past. Both our forwards and backs are a match for anyone and we are playing some great rugby. We have the momentum and I think we are a daunting prospect for anyone,”

The weather will be cool and heavy rain is forecast which will prevent the fast running game that both sides would want. Quins are expected to dominate up front, and come away with at least four points, four tries are possible as Quins search for their twelfth bonus point this season.

Like both sets of supporters I m very much looking forward to this match and I do not expect to be worrying in Whitton on Saturday afternoon but  enjoying the match on the big screen nursing a couple of pints of Pride in the Prince Albert.

You’ve not seen nothing like the

Mighty Quins!

Other games this weekend are:

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