Heineken Cup - Pool 4
Quins target home advantage in quarter-finals
Scrum.com
January 22, 2009
The Scarlets Stephen Jones holds onto the ball during their Anglo-Welsh Cup match against Northampton Saints at Frankllin's Gardens in Northampton, England on November 1, 2008.
Scarlets fly-half Stephen Jones is hoping his side can build on their historic victory over Stade Francais last weekend © Getty Images
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Harlequins are already assured of a place in the quarter-finals of this season's Heineken Cup and will go in search of home advantage in the knock-out stages when they take on the Scarlets at the Twickenham Stoop.

However they will face a resurgent Scarlets side fresh from an impressive victory over Stade Francais last weekend that ended an 11-match winless run in Europe for the Welsh side. Quins tasted defeat in Europe for the first time against Ulster in their last outing but head coach John Kingston insists the side remain positive.

"The statistics speak for themselves. We have played nine out of our twenty two games at home this season, and out of those nine we have won seven. I believe that in all those past home games we have really given supporters something to shout about and hopefully this Saturday's game will be no exception.

"There is no question that one of the major factors for these impressive performances was the home support. It lifts each one of the players, and helps spur them forward, right into the dying seconds, a great example being the fantastic victory over Stade Francais. If the fans want a home quarter final place as much as I think they do, they must play their part once again and join us on Saturday and cheer the players on. A win with a bonus point will enhance the chances of a home draw, something which is so valuable to us all.

"We can never underestimate Scarlets, as was shown in their defeat last weekend against Stade Francais, and their first half performance against us away in our opening Heineken Cup game back in October."

Quins boss Dean Richards has selected Nick Evans at fullback for the game, with Chris Malone being given to atone for his horror-show against Ulster at fly-half. Chris Robshaw, Will Skinner and Nick Easter continue in the back-row.

Scarlets fly-half Stephen Jones has warned the Quins that the Region are hoping to continue to rebuild their European credentials. He said: "Although the Heineken Cup is over for us this season, our ambitions are to keep going forward as a side. We need to keep on gathering momentum and improving our performances. We have a tough game against Harlequins before refocusing on the Celtic competition, and, while it's all about performing well now, it is also important to secure points for the ERC European rankings for next year.

"As for the match on Saturday in London, when you see the Scarlets play the type of game that we played against Stade last weekend - and which we know we can do and have done in the past, though probably didn't do last year - I think we have the ability to win."

This weekend's Scarlets team sees young scrum-half Lee Williams keep his place on the wing where he played last week due to back-three injuries. Ceiron Thomas remains at fullback and, on the bench, there are recalls for lock Scott MacLeod, centre Gavin Evans and fullback Morgan Stoddart. Stephen Jones admitted that a home European defeat to Quins at Stradey Park in October had had a negative effect on the Region's season.

"Going back to our first game against the Quins earlier in the tournament we were outstanding in the first half and probably should have won a bonus point by half-time. But we didn't achieve that and the second half really knocked us. It took us a long time to recover so hopefully we'll see a full 80-minute performance this time. We did Quins a favour by beating Stade last weekend but it was always about us in that game and we would like to think we've re-established some European credentials."

It was the Scarlets' debut European win at their new home at Parc y Scarlets and Jones believes it will prove only the first of many. "We seem to have built up something nice here in this stadium and it feels like home now," said the player who contributed 16 points with the boot to the victory over Stade to take his Heineken Cup tally to 748. "Winning here was definitely good for us, good for the fans and good for the future. We have to make sure people are keen to come here and if we keep playing like that there's no reason why we shouldn't continue winning."

Harlequins: Nick Evans, Tom Williams, Gonzalo Tiesi, Jordan Turner-Hall, Ugo Monye, Chris Malone, Danny Care, Ceri Jones, Tani Fuga, Mike Ross, James Percival, George Robson, Chris Robshaw, Will Skinner, Nick Easter

Chris Brooker, Mark Lambert, Jim Evans, Tom Guest, Junior Poluleuligaga, Charlie Amesbury, De Wet Barry

Scarlets: Ceiron Thomas, Darren Daniel, Regan King, Jon Davies, Lee Williams, Stephen Jones, Martin Roberts; Phil John, Matthew Rees, Deacon Manu, Vernon Cooper, Dominic Day, Simon Easterby (c), Dafydd Jones, David Lyons.

Replacements: Ken Owens, Iestyn Thomas, Scott MacLeod, Josh Turnbull, Gavin Cattle, Gavin Evans, Morgan Stoddart.

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