"Disappointed but not unexpected really," said last week's man-of-the-match Nick Duncombe. "I haven't had enough games to prove myself yet after missing the first couple of months of the season with a foot injury, and I haven't really been thinking of it."

"I have been thinking about getting my form back for Quins and playing for them, and then whatever happens, happens."

The 20 year-old scrum half who missed the start of the season with a leg injury has been involved in the last five matches, four wins and a narrow defeat at Sale, and is looking good to step up from his eye-catching performances from last season.

"With the Commonwealth Games in the summer I didn't have much of a pre-season, and I came back from there after a long and successful season with my first season of rugby and I was a little bit drained here and there. With my foot injury, which was unexpected, it gave me a chance to hit the weights and get my life back on track."

"I feel quite sharp, we are starting to gel as a team a bit more which makes my job a lot easier if I'm the lynchpin between nine and ten. The more the players around me understand the game, a lot easier it is for me and from that point of view it is a big help from my team."

Although missing Will Greenwood and Jason Leonard to the England game, Quins can still boast a powerful line-up and with recent signing Andre Vos's inclusion, a back row containing the three 'A's' - Ace Tiatia, Andre Vos, and Anthony Diprose - should give the Stoop outfit a more than useful edge to today's derby.

"Vos a big bonus for us, he's one of those players who will lead from the front. He'll do all the dirty work and do whatever he wants and as you saw from him last week, he was all over the park causing trouble for Bath. He's a big signing and I'm looking forward to being in the same side as him."

But in the race to be England's number nine, the re-emergence of Andy Gormasall at Gloucester, deposed nine Kyran Bracken, and Matt Dawson, Duncombe's chances to join the squad may be rare.

"Experience wise I've learnt a lot in the last year. I've always had my natural talents, but it is the stuff you do outside of that works. The understanding of the game, the extra training, and that's what I've got to improve on and if it happens it happens."

With wet weather predicted for the game, Quins will be looking for a similar performance to last week.

"The forwards seem to perform a bit better by doing all the dirty work rather than trying to get their hands on the ball and score tries, and from that point of view I don't mind playing in the rain," continued Duncombe.

"We've got to take it one game at a time. We've been training well for this week and although Sarries aren't going to lose too many players to England they have lost a few to other countries, and we are playing them away which is always difficult and there is a bit of history with some of our players and management, and I'm looking forward to it and it is going to be a tough challenge."

"This is a must win game for us," said Saracens head coach Wayne Shelford.

"We had hoped to beat both Leicester and Leeds, and now we need to catch-up and pick-up all the points that are on offer."

"With the internationals we have five key men out, and this will be six when Morgan (Williams) moves off to meet up with the Canadian squad. This obviously isn't ideal, but we're fortunate in that we have good alternatives. The guys coming in to the starting line-up aren't school boys, they all know what Premiership rugby is about and can step up to the plate," continued the former All Black number eight.

"It is a good opportunity for several of them to really push for a regular starting spot, and I'm sure that this isn't lost on them."

"I expect this to be a tough derby game with some good rugby played, and I look forward to a beer afterwards. Although it's been pretty wet, the preparation this week has been good, and we all understand the importance of this match."