FOR me, tonight’s game with Harlequins is a pivotal match for the whole season. There are a few games like this one thoughout a year — it is a cup final for us.

The league starts to split up during the campaign and we want to make sure we stay with the right half.

The result of tonight’s match can put a very different complexion on the table for us.

It is a must-win situation — we have trained well and hard and we know what we are doing.

We are hoping to right the wrongs from Saturday’s defeat at Bath and being at home in front of our great crowd will help.

Quins are a similar side to Bath and probably have more quality in their squad.

However, Bath are a very well-coached side and they play some great rugby. Harlequins and Bath are arguably two of the best sides in the country at the moment and we will have to play well to win tonight.

Quins play smart rugby and we know that we will have to do the same to beat them.

Charlie Fellows is set for his first start for the club tonight and, as a player, he is a bit of a funny one.

He takes some stick from the lads but, every time he plays, he performs and does things you don’t expect.

He is a real attacking threat and a very talented player — I certainly expect big things from him.

He was great for us in our pre-season matches and deserves his starting spot in the team.

Unfortunately for Chris Pennell, he has picked up a slight knock, but that is rugby.

You don’t play nine or 10 games in a row without picking up some niggles in this sport. It is not too bad though, it just means he can’t play this week.

He has arguably been our best player this season. He has got a fantastic attitude and trains really hard — there is no substitute for hard work.

Injuries are testing us at the moment, but it shouldn’t be too long until we’ve got all of our guys back and fully fit.

If we want to be successful as a team, we have to deal with these injuries as and when they come along.

The teams who do well in this league are the teams who deal with injuries and still keep winning without their key players.

Leicester are a fine example of this — they are the benchmark.

In some ways, the up-coming European Challenge Cup and EDF Cup games can give some players the chance for a rest and to regain fitness, but we will be looking to use the whole squad. It doesn’t matter what competition we are playing in, we go out there wanting to win.

The squad could always be a bit bigger, but the players we have got are very talented and motivated.

It is not just us who are struggling with missing players, though. Newcastle have just lost the unlucky Jonny Wilkinson to a knee injury, while Northampton will have to cope without Neil Best until the end of January after he was suspended for 18 weeks.

It happens to all of the teams at some stage in the season.