Title aside, Harlequins’ attack and backs coach Nick Evans has placed a lot of importance on his side’s Big Game 13 tussle with Northampton Saints on Monday. 

Over 70,000 fans will pack Twickenham Stadium as Harlequins men's and women's side, both reigning domestic champions, welcome Saints and Wasps respectively.

The men’s team, who sit one place and one point below Northampton, will follow entertainment from DJ Pete Tong and Harlequins Women, who will face Wasps in the first Premier 15s game to be held at Rugby HQ. 

Evans said: “Everyone at Quins is just so excited to get back to a Big Game. I think this is a very important fixture for us.  

“We’ve got a really important run of three games coming up and they come thick and fast. We’ve just come off the back of a couple of really good wins in Europe and now we have a run of three games in one stretch. 

“I think if you put the context of the Big Game aside, the importance of this game from a club point of view is big.  

“Then you add a team like Northampton and it makes it equally as massive as well. Both teams are going reasonably well in the Premiership and both play really positive rugby. 

“They like to move the ball around a lot and, hopefully, it will make for a really great game for fans to watch in the stands. 

“But for us, it’s super important and we want to back up a couple of decent performances in Europe and, actually, a decent performance against Leicester in terms of intensity and physicality, despite a loss. This is a real big game for us.” 

Harlequins have made five changes to their starting XV who recorded back-to-back wins in the Champions Cup.

Joe Marler and Louis Lynagh return with Matt Symons handed his first start since October having recovered from injury. 

Perhaps the biggest return comes for the women’s side as Jess Breach makes her first start in three months after being sidelined with a back injury. 

Head coach Gerard Mullen said: “Everyone at Harlequins Women is super excited for Big Game 13. It will be an amazing day for the club, and we can’t wait to put on a show for all fans attending.  

“There’s a real buzz around the squad and they have been looking forward to the fixture for a while now.  

“It’s a great opportunity for them to perform on a big stage and it shows how far the women’s game has come over the last few seasons.” 

"Wasps are side filled with international talent. You only have to look at players like Meg Jones and Abby Dow to see the quality they possess.  

“We have to make sure we keep them quiet throughout the whole game, if we do then it will go a long way in getting us across the line. 

“They’re sitting just outside the playoff spots, so they’ll be eager to put in a performance to get back into the top four."