Harlequins head coach Tabai Matson is refusing to panic as his side look to end their three-match losing streak against Wasps in the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday.

Quins have slipped to fourth and will drop out of the play-off places with a defeat at the Twickenham Stoop.

The defending champions face fierce competition in the race for the top four, with Wasps a point behind in fifth and ninth-placed Sale only a further three back.

One bright spot is that Joe Marler returns to the starting XV, after the England prop requested to be released from international duty during the Six Nations fallow week.

His comeback is timely, as Quins’ 19-10 away loss to Saracens last week followed a 36-14 home drubbing by Sale and a 21-17 defeat at bottom-placed Bath.

Wasps, by contrast, have won four on the bounce in the Gallagher Premiership, but Matson remains upbeat.

He said: “There will be times in the season when you lose momentum. When you lose three in a row, it adds a little extra intensity.

“The Premiership is the toughest comp in the world, because of how close everybody is.

“A big part of the game when you lose a few consecutive games in a row is making sure that we’re not panicking in what we do in preparation for the next game. 

“It’s been really pleasing to see that everyone, across the performance programme, has been able to take a balanced view.”

Marler was a substitute in both of England’s Six Nations games this campaign and was omitted from this week’s training squad.

Quins were dominated in the scrum at Saracens and Matson commended his attitude.

He said: “Joe said before the tournament that in the fallow weeks if he wasn’t getting game time he would love to come back and that shows how much he loves the club.

“Joe is a talisman and when guys like him are standing beside you on the field, they lift you.”

In one of four changes, Marler replaces Santiago García Botta, while fly-half Will Edwards and centre Huw Jones also start.

Club captain Stephan Lewies makes his first start since sustaining an injury after the opening game of this season.

Tommaso Allan and Matas Jurevicius drop to the bench, where they are joined by back-rows Tom Lawday and James Chisholm, who have recovered from injuries.

Number eight Archie White will make his 50th club appearance, while Danny Care, Andre Esterhuizen and Tyrone Green feature in the backline.

Matson’s team are still without 12 players, including England squad members Marcus Smith, Alex Dombrandt, Luke Northmore and Joe Marchant.