Nick Easter: We can make late Euro charge

Nick Easter believes he is ready to help Harlequins clinch a place in next season's Heineken Cup.

The England No8 injured his ankle against France last month but is now back in full training and looks certain to face Leeds at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday.

Quins will be aiming to build on last week's 23-14 win over Newcastle which left them in eighth position — six points behind Bath, who fill the last of the six Heineken Cup spots.

Easter has a major role to play if Quins are to move up the Guinness Premiership and win a place in Europe's top competition.

He said: "There is still time for us to qualify, although we realise there are tough games, starting with Leeds who have shown great spirit in recent matches. We were desperate to build on last year's achievement of making the quarter-finals but that didn't happen and now the target is to ensure we are in it next season.

"The cup games are very close to the intensity you experience in Test matches and no one at this club wants to turn up at the end-of-season dinner knowing we didn't qualify. That is what's driving us on.

"My ankle needed a couple of weeks to sort out and that break may have been a blessing."

Meanwhile, Easter's England colleague, Dylan Hartley, is convinced his Northampton side can win the Treble. Saints have already lifted the LV Cup, sit second in the Premiership and face a Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster in Limerick on Saturday.

"If I was asked which do I want to win more out of the Premiership and Heineken Cup, I'd say both because it's realistic," said the hooker.