Dan Luger has already consigned his Lions heartache to the history books as he prepares for a new Premiership campaign with Harlequins.

The England wing was cruelly denied a Test place against Australia this summer when he collided with Neil Back in training.

It left Luger nursing a fractured cheekbone _ and with no hope of featuring in the three-Test series which eventually went Australia's way 2-1.

Such a savage setback proved the latest blow during a career littered by injury problems, and Luger could have been excused the odd glance skywards wondering what he had done wrong.

There is no sense of bitterness though, just a determination to deliver the goods and enjoy an overdue injury-free run.

He has endured more than his fair share of fitness blows, missing all bar 10 minutes of England's Six Nations campaign last term through a neck/shoulder problem, then seeing those Lions Test hopes vanish in agonising fashion.

But a new season means a fresh start, with Luger hell-bent on helping to continue Quins' recent revival and regain an England place for the October Grand Slam clash against Ireland, amid stiff competition from fellow Lions Jason Robinson, Austin Healey and Ben Cohen.

``Obviously, what happened in Australia was very disappointing, but it was a freak accident,'' he said.

``I was just unlucky, that's all. It is the way that things go sometimes, but hopefully now, I can stay injury-free for the whole season.

``I had four weeks off in Australia, which I spent travelling around with my girlfriend, then another fortnight when I returned home, so I've enjoyed a long break coming into the new season.''

Quins, whose busy summer recruitment campaign saw them snap up Saracens trio Luger, Tony Diprose and Bill Davison among others, look serious top five Premiership material.

The highly-respected former Richmond rugby director John Kingston has replaced Zinzan Brooke as head coach, with Richard Hill as his deputy, while chief executive Mark Evans and managing director Tony Copsey head up an impressive off-field team.

Luger, who quit Quins to join Saracens two years ago, is in a good position to make comparisons between the club he left behind and what awaited him on his return.

``I think that the club is a lot more professional than it used to be,'' he added.

``There has been a big improvement off the field, while our training facilities down at Aldershot are amazing, there is no other word to describe them.

``I can't wait for the season to start. People have been talking us up quite a lot, but the key thing for us is to try and improve on last year and become more consistent, especially in the league.

``We cannot afford to get above ourselves and think we are great, because we are not in that position yet.''

Quins finished last season by clinching the European Shield after a thrilling extra-time victory over French challengers Narbonne, an achievement which Luger believes should give them impetus for the new campaign.

``Winning a tournament like the Shield will give the guys great confidence,'' he said. ``That final was the sort of game which can build and make a team. `We want to play good rugby and entertain the crowds, but if we don't win
games then there is not a lot of point.''

Quins kick off against London Irish, followed by appointments with Bristol, Newcastle and Wasps before the Heineken Cup takes them on a tricky opening weekend mission to rejuvenated Welsh club Bridgend.

Luger and his team-mates are keen to make an immediate impression, and with season ticket sales having increased by a massive 82% compared with last year's corresponding period, the future looks bright.

Quins mean business and it is a long time since that statement could be taken seriously.