Preview: Exeter v Harlequins

Saturday 12th February 2011 Kick off: 3.00pm   With cup rugby shelved for another few weeks Harlequins get back to the grind that is the Aviva Premiership, and a block of 4 league games prior to the LV= Cup semi-final at home to Newcastle. First up is a difficult away trip to Sandy Park, the home of Exeter Chiefs, where the Devonians have put together a rather impressive record this season.

For a club that is in its first ever season in top flight rugby Exeter's home record is quite remarkable. They have won 8 from 11 at home, with only 2 defeats in the AP, against London Irish and Leicester. They have also performed pretty well in the same two cup competition as Quins, coming a very respectable 2^nd in their Amlin pool while only losing 1 from 4 in the LV= group stage – although the vagaries of the tournament format saw them finish 4^th in the same pool as us!

While Exeter's forwards seem to attract special praise nearly every time they play they don't exactly play a 'boring' 10 man game. Try scoring in the Premiership has been a little difficult for them but they are happy to run the ball through the backs frequently enough, and you can't help feeling that, like Quins have done recently, they will benefit from building more experience on the pitch together.

Back to the pack though, and here lies the main reason why Exeter have been so fiercely competitive this season, perhaps surprising everyone bar themselves. Some of their number have been outstanding, and up there with the best in the league. Players like Hayes, Hanks, Johnson, Scaysbrook and Baxter have been indomitable up front, and that includes the set piece.

This will be yet another big battle for Quins, and one of the most pleasing aspects of their current run of 9 consecutive wins is that they have had to show real determination, character and toughness throughout. Quins welcome back their England Saxons this week, and Brown, Monye, Marler, Robson and Robshaw are all starters. Marler's return is quite hard on Ceri Jones, who has come back from injury in buoyant form. Also back from injury are James Johnston and Tomas Vallejos. Another couple of players returning to the starting line-up are JTH and Joe Gray.

The Human Wrecking Ball, Big Mo, retains his place on the blindside, and this is the sort of game in which he should flourish. The way he commits himself in the tackle and with ball in hand is as if someone had just insulted his wife. His controlled fury will be needed against Exeter.

It's quite a difficult game to predict an outcome, but I believe if Quins can maintain their hard edge then they will win. However, home advantage should make things very close. The weather is forecast to be sunny and with little wind, and if Quins can gain parity of possession then there should be an advantage in the backs considering the imperious form of Evans and Dickson. Having said that, Luke Arscott is also in superb form at full back for the home side and he will be a difficult man to keep quiet.

I'll go for a Quins win but it won't be a total shock if the winning run ends.