Harlequins must hit right tempo at Twickenham to keep Premiership play-off bid alive

Harlequins hope the high-octane Twickenham factor can supercharge their Premiership play-off bid in Saturday’s crucial clash against league leaders Northampton.

Quins host Saints in the Big Summer Kick-Off fixture fully intending to capitalise on not just another bumper crowd, but also the latest mega music act.

Jess Glynne will be pumping out her string of feel-good hits before kick-off and at half-time — and Quins will latch onto the tempo to quicken the pace of their pre-match warm-up.

This time last year, Quins hosted Exeter at Twickenham and ran through an extended warm-up while Sister Bliss pumped out Faithless hits like Insomnia. Quins seized on the rhythm for a lightning start, going on to thump the Chiefs 40-5 for a crucial victory.

One year on, the west Londoners hope to repeat that feat against Phil Dowson’s in-form Saints.

“We’re really fortunate to have these big games at Twickenham, and the boys are very excited,” England No 8 Alex Dombrandt told Standard Sport. “The club have really made the ground our own and made it different from other fixtures at the ground, and we’re very lucky for Quins setting the way for the club scene.

“These big acts get the crowd going beforehand, so all the supporters are in their seats early and getting into it. That’s all going on around the warm-up and that allows us to get into it as well and raise the level.

“That has definitely helped give us a fast start in the past and, hopefully, we can make that do the same again for us this weekend. You try to feed off all that, for a fast start and a good day.”

The play-off race is so tight that every team needs to grab any tiny advantage going. Harlequins sit fifth heading into the weekend, with a trip to Exeter and then a home clash with Bristol following the Northampton showdown.

Dombrandt believes Quins’ attacking axis at eight, nine and 10 can cause the Saints real problems, with star names operating in those areas for both teams.

Saints will look to England half-backs Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith to pilot the east Midlands men around the field this weekend.

But Dombrandt will have Danny Care and Marcus Smith for company, with in-form Will Porter and Jarrod Evans also waiting on the bench.

And Dombrandt revealed Quins’ influential contingent know each other so well as to feed off each other almost on instinct.

“We all get on really well off the pitch, we’ve played a lot of games together on the pitch, we know how each other player, skills and strengths,” he said. “We complement each other. And Will Porter and Jarrod Evans have really added to that, they really suit our attacking game.

“The more you play with someone, you get used to the little triggers on what they are going to do. That can really help you look to link up with them over time.”