Danny Care is hoping to continue his partnership with Nick Evans beyond this season © Getty Images

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News: Evans set to put family over pay cheque

Players/Officials: Danny Care | Nick Evans

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: England | Harlequins

Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care admits he and the rest of his Harlequins teammates are doing all they can to persuade Nick Evans to stay with the club.

The Kiwi's contract is set to run out at the end of the season and while he is in negotiations with the Premiership champions, there is also interest from big-spending clubs in France and Japan. He has already shown his value to the club in Quins' unbeaten run of three wins from three most notably in their opening day win over London Wasps when he contributed 22 points.

"Without doubt, Nick is the best player I have ever played with and he did three or four unbelievable things that won the game against Wasps. That's why he gets paid the big money," Care told The Evening Standard. "He is the most professional bloke I have ever met and a top lad and I am sure there are a lot of teams after him as contract talks with Quins are going on at the moment. We have tried putting the squeeze on because all of the squad want him to stay. Nick's running threat means defences have to look at that danger and that can leave a gap for me and, after three years of playing together, we know each other's games really well. I know when he wants the ball and if I don't deliver it then he lets me know."

Care himself recently signed a new three-year contract with the club, whose next match is against Leicester Tigers in a repeat of last season's Premiership final. Both sides are unbeaten, though Leicester slipped to a 9-9 draw with Saracens at Wembley Stadium a week ago.

"We want to be even better than last season and this start has put us in a good position but going to Leicester takes everything to a different level," he said. "They will be gunning for us but we won there for the first time in ages and are looking to do the same this time. It will be a hell of a game."

Later this season Care is hopeful that he can continue his return to international duty when England play Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in November and December. Having missed out on the Six Nations for disciplinary reasons, his decision to not drink alcohol allowed him to get his career back on track and he was rewarded when he returned to England colours in the third test against South Africa in June.

"I would be lying if I said I had not been thinking about the four autumn internationals and, having been the last person to wear the England No9 shirt in South Africa, I would love to be the next to wear it," Care said. "I am very happy and life couldn't be better after last season which was tough for me. I am enjoying my rugby and feel more worldly-wise. I realise where I was going wrong away from rugby and I have developed those areas with good people -- family, friends and the Quins guys -- around me."