Tabai Matson says his Harlequins team will need to be at their best to beat table-topping Leicester Tigers.

Quins take on the league leaders Tigers in the Gallagher Premiership at the sold out Twickenham Stoop this Sunday.

After last week’s heartbreaking elimination from the Heineken Champions Cup to Montpellier, they will be looking to bounce back with a winning return to domestic action.

Before their European disappointment, Quins had won their last five Premiership Rugby matches, unbeaten since a 10-19 defeat at Saracens early February. 

And senior coach Matson recognised the challenge ahead, but remained hopeful that if his team performed at their best they could come away with the points.

He said: “It will be a tough day for us if we aren’t on top of our own performance.

“We’re looking forward to playing the Harlequins way against the league leaders.”

After Saturday’s European elimination, the Harlequins chief is also keen to keep up team spirits.

He added: “After the final whistle, once you get over maybe a couple of minutes of remorse, you need to move on and think, ‘Okay, how are we going to ensure that the team is now focused on the Premiership, understanding they all take different times to get through their emotional process of getting through the game?”

In the previous meeting at Welford Road, the teams were separated by just two points 16-14 as Harlequins suffered a narrow loss against the Tigers.

It was a battle between the two number tens, with Marcus Smith scoring nine points from the tee and George Ford scoring 11.

Wingers Harry Potter and Louis Lynagh both scored tried and it was Ford’s conversion for Potter’s try that ended up being the deciding factor in the victory.

Quins’ only defeat in their last five games in Premiership Rugby was 14-36 to Sale Sharks in February.

Meanwhile, the Tigers will head to The Stoop after back-to-back victories over Clermont.

Hanro Liebenberg will captain the team in a new-look back row alongside Olly Robinson and Sean Jansen

In his third appearance for the club, Jansen will make his Gallagher Premiership debut, while Robinson, in his sixth appearance, will make his first Tigers start.

But Matson is prepared for the weekend, saying: “It will be a fantastic challenge for us.”