Will Collier admitted Harlequins players immediately search for the dates they face Saracens in what he describes as a 'tasty' clash ahead of Saturday's derby.

Harlequins host their bitter London rivals at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday in round two of the Gallagher Premiership in the showpiece match of this weekend. 

It is the first time the two sides have faced each other since the feisty Gallagher Premiership semi-final at StoneX Stadium in June, which Saracens won 34-17 – denying their London rivals a place in the final for two consecutive seasons. 

Harlequins opened their season with a 40-31 against Newcastle Falcons, while it is Saracens’ first game of the season after their bye week last weekend, and Quins prop Collier believes the game being played so early in the new season adds to the enormity of the derby. 

He said: “It’s huge, as I said, certainly for us and I think they would say the same, it’s the first fixture we look at when the fixtures are released. 

“You look down at the fixture list and you think right, where is Saracens, when are we playing them? 

“It being the second game of the season not long after playing them in the semi, and let’s be honest they outplayed us, is going to be huge. 

“They have got a really good team, they have only had one warm up match in pre-season, which might be quite tough for them, but we know how they are going to be, we know how they are going to play, they know how we play, which is what makes the fixture so tasty.” 

Harlequins and Saracens have shared this rivalry for some time, but in recent years it has heated up a notch, with both sides at the top end of the Premiership and Saracens’ recent enforced relegation seemingly leading to a war of words. 

Collier insists there was no specific incident that triggered the off-field antics, and that the rivalry has simply spiced up while the sport has grown. 

“I don’t know if there was a catalyst for that, I think it’s just as the game has got bigger, after lockdown especially, with fans coming back and bringing that extra passion, it just comes back stronger," he said.

“Every game we play, the rivalry gets bigger, and we’ve had a few more down the line, a few more under our belts. 

“It always gets tasty, there are always scuffles and things like that off the ball which you have to just laugh at and watch. 

“There is more and more ammo for each time, but it’s great - it adds to the whole spectacle.” 

Harlequins scored six tries on their way to a bonus point victory at Kingston Park last Saturday but continuing on from last season they also conceded five tries. 

Two of those scores came from Falcons’ driving mauls, with hooker George McGuigan crossing for a brace. 

With Saracens’ forward pack often thriving with the driving maul, Collier did not hide the fact he is concerned with Harlequins’ maul defence. 

He added: “It is concerning, I spoke about the forward pack being the foundations for us to be able to play the kind of rugby we want to play. 

“To concede those tries, and also in pre-season we conceded those tries as well, it’s something we’ve really looked at, and I’m sure it’s something they’re going to target. 

“But we had a great maul battle last time we played them in the semi as well and we got our maul attack going. 

“But it’s the defensive stuff, we’ve had some new personnel, so we have to get used to the combinations and used to the systems and we spent a lot of time trying to fix it.” 

One of those personnel changes saw lock Hugh Tizard follow the likes of David Strettle and James Johnston in signing for Saracens from Harlequins. 

Tizard was one of Quins’ most important players last season in what was a real breakthrough season for the 22-year-old, but Collier insisted there are no hard feelings towards his former teammate. 

“It’s great, we’ve had it before and it just adds that little bit extra, you just have those extra few words on the pitch," said Collier.

“I think he is going for coffee with a few of the lads this week, so everyone is still mates with him, he’s still a great guy and obviously an amazing player. 

“But again it adds another layer to the rich tapestry of the Quins Sarries rivalry.”