Will Skinner maintains that his side will not lack for motivation this weekend © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Conor O'Shea | Will Skinner

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup

Teams: England | Harlequins | Sale Sharks

Harlequins' Heineken Cup hopes may be lying in tatters after their defeat to Sale at the Stoop on Saturday, but skipper Will Skinner has warned their Premiership rivals not to expect an easy ride when the teams go head-to-head once again on Saturday.

According to the gritty openside there are scores to settle between his players and the Sharks, who will be eyeing a second bonus-point success in as many weeks to keep pace with Toulouse and Cardiff Blues.

"Speaking to the guys, we know we've got a job to do," he told ESPNscrum. "Even though we're out of the European Cup now, we've got a few scores to settle after the weekend. We know that the performance wasn't good enough, we created opportunities but we gave them soft tries and opportunities to get back in to the game. It's something we've got to put right this weekend.

"We know we've got the quality of player, we proved that over this season and last season. It's about having belief and being able to go away from home to hard place like Sale and show what we can do. It's going to be tough but I've got full faith in the guys."

Skinner expects Sale to push for top spot in their Pool, earmarking Toulouse's visit to Edgeley Park as a vital litmus test for the French giants. "Sale are a bit of an unknown quantity in Europe, they haven't done a great amount in recent seasons. They've got good coaches, there's no reason why they can't get top spot within out group. Toulouse still have to go to Edgeley Park, away from home a French team can always struggle."

Quins limped into this season under the cloud generated by 'Bloodgate' but with the appointment of Dean Richards' successor around the corner the club are looking towards the latter stages of the Premiership and the playoffs.

"In a funny sort of way, losing at the weekend allows us to focus completely on the Premiership," Skinner said. "We're in the middle of the table and looking to get in to that top four towards the end of the season. That's our focus, no matter where it is in the top four, as long as we're in the play-offs and able to get in to the semis and final, we want to reach those stages in the latter part of the season."

John Kingston has taken the coaching reins for the opening months of the season and Skinner insists that his input has allowed Quins to take their time in selecting the right man for the job with former London Irish director of rugby and Ireland fullback Conor O'Shea reportedly set to be unveiled by the club this week.

"He's a great forwards coach and a great guy to have around," he said. "He motivates us brilliantly and his coaching skills are second-to-none. We're pleased that someone will be coming in but we don't want to rush that decision.

"We want to make sure we get the right guy in and we know that takes time. I think there will be a decision made over the next couple of weeks and the players and staff will make it as easy as possible for him to slip in and get in to our club ethos."

We spoke to Will Skinner over a pint of Greene King IPA, the Official Beer of Harlequins and England Rugby. Get behind the scenes access and win tickets to see Harlequins in The Big Game 2 at www.greenekingipa.co.uk.