Certainly three weeks ago it was looking like this could be a winner take all match whereby the winner would finish top of the Premiership table. Unfortunately recent results mean that this match doesn’t t not have quite that billing as both teams essentially fight it out for 5^th and 6^th positions, assuming the matches of the teams above them go to plan. Whilst it may appear that there will not be any reward associated t with the result there is a lot to play for, as far a s a place in next seasons Heineken Cup is concerned. Finishing fifth would guarantee that prize, finish sixth and that team will have to await the result of the ECC final between Bath and Worcester, praying that Bath will come out on top.

Harlequins long run of success came to en end against London Irish and the must win game against Sale resulted in another loss despite a bonus point gain Quins needed to have won both these matches and I detect that the team reverted to the same game plan that they used earlier in the season during those dark winter days, race a head take the lead in the first quarter and then try to hold on to that lead for the remainder of the game. The loss against Sale and the bounce back by Wasps to take a five point win in their game in hand has essentially put paid to a top four finish,

It has been a long season for the team and maybe they were just short of completing the job in hand. Disappointment for club and supporters alike, but Harlequins have not been outside the top six since day one of the season; ignore the EDF and Heineken cup games

Leicester has had a very poor season by their standards and are in danger of having no silverware to show for their endeavours, something that was unheard in years gone by. As Mick Cleary wrote at the weekend “form talk of a treble to talk of trouble, Leicester have visited all points of the critical compass” There is unrest in the air in Leicester, and with their football club relegated the City could also see there rugby club, but not least their Argentinean coach in trouble. Quins have already scored a victory over Leicester with the announcement of the signing of Nick Evans earlier this week, and certainly Deano will see no better opportunity to get one over on his old employer, but this weeks match will not be easy, after a long season on a warm sunny day against a wounded Leicester who will be out to show their supporters what they are made of.

Harlequins will be match for Leicester and it is good to see that Simon Keogh does get a final run out in the quartered shirt, and will no doubt score the winning, bonus point try to seal the Quins win. It is also a great honour for Will Skinner to return to his old club as captain of his side. Leicester has announced a very strong line up with a lot of their well known players, and as we have seen before it will be Andy Goode who will work to orchestrate the down fall of Quins. Chris Malone needs a big game

The teams are:

Harlequins
1 Ceri Jones ,2 Chris Brooker, 3 Mike Ross, 4 James Percival, 5 George Robson, 6 Chris Robshaw ,7 Will Skinner (C), 8 Nick Easter, 9 Danny Care, 10 Chris Malone,11 Simon Keogh, 12 Tosh Masson 13 David Strettle ,14 Tom Williams, 15 Mike Brown ,
Replacements: 16 Aston Croall 17 John Brooks 18 Jim Evans 19 Tom Guest 20 Steven So’oialo 21 Adrian Jarvis 22 De Wet Barry

Leicester
1.Boris Stankovich 2. Mefin Davies 3. Julian White 4. Marco Wentzel 5. Ben Kay 6. Martin Corry (c) 7. Ben Herring 8. Jordan Crane 9. Harry Ellis 10. Andy Goode 11. Johne Murphy 12. Aaron Mauger 13. Dan Hipkiss 14. Tom Varndell 15. Geordan Murphy
Replacements: 16. George Chuter 17. Marcos Ayerza 18. Richard Blaze 19. Tom Croft 20. Christophe Laussucq 21. Sam Vesty 22. Ayoola Erinle

Harlequins Director of Rugby, Dean Richards, is looking forward to this game and has said t:  "We travel to Leicester for the climax of this season's fixture list. It will no doubt be a huge game for both players and supporters and I am looking forward to it being a well fought match. "It is a young and talented squad who will be making the journey to Welford Road tomorrow. We haven't given up the fourth spot yet and we are still in with a shout." It is a tall order but mathematically is achievable, and would n t it be good for Keogh to snatch the winner!

All in all it will be an interesting Saturday afternoon of rugby to follow, the other games this weekend are:

You’ve not seen nothing like the

Mighty Quins!

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