Dean has the belief to end Quins' horror run

Harlequins lost 17-3 against the same opposition last weekend and another reverse at Bristol will confirm their status as European also-rans.

But while the playing implications are important, the financial system in the Heineken Cup means failure to make the knock-out stages will not seriously impact on the club's bank balance.

This removes one potential pressure from Richards, who is keen to remind the doubters that his team were totally in control of their match at Guinness Premiership leaders Gloucester on 24 November before they stumbled to a late 27-25 defeat. If the team had held on to their 15-point second-half lead, Richards believes the picture would look very different.

While there is no disputing his argument, the results table shows five defeats and a draw from the last six games and the most concerning aspect of the scenario is the manner of the loss to Bristol last weekend.

After the match, Richards admitted: "That was the worst we've played in two-and-a-half years. The players know that and we need to get out of this little rut that we've got ourselves into."

Having endured a dreadful start to last season, which saw Quins lose five games in a row, Richards eventually sorted out the problems and got the club into the prestigious Heineken Cup. He didn't panic then and is taking the same line now.

"We don't have a problem with confidence at the club and the team still retain their self-belief," Richards said. "You have to recognise that we have just played a series of very tough games against the best teams in England [Gloucester], France [Stade Francais] and Wales [Cardiff and Ospreys].

"It's a fact that we could have won two or three of those and we still took a huge amount out of the games. We still have a lot to play for this season and have a huge Premiership game with Saracens on 22 December.

"We believe we can win these games and should have nicked the victory at Gloucester having been 25-10 up.

"That is why I'm confident we are not far away from being where we want to be. I am happy with the squad we have and, hopefully, a couple of the injured players will be back this weekend."

For Quins fans, one of the major topics of conversation in their chat rooms is what to do about the No10 jersey.

Adrian Jarvis has been in the role in recent weeks following injury to former Bath outside-half Chris Malone, who arrived with a big reputation as a goal kicker. What the team need is a play-maker to bring a talented and potent backline into action on a regular basis and that is why thoughts have been turning to the problems at Newcastle.

Quins fans would welcome the addition of master-motivator Steve Black to the coaching set-up following his departure from Newcastle on the basis that he is Jonny Wilkinson's mentor. For now, though, Quins fans will have to be content with Malone and Jarvis as Richards confirms the squad will not be changed during the rest of the season.

The Quins board can take comfort from the fact that all 12 Premiership clubs receive an equal share of the money generated in the Heineken Cup. However, the major "earner" comes at the quarter-final stage.

Under an incentive scheme operated by Cup organisers, a home club in the quarter-finals can keep 65 per cent of the gate takings if they go to a ground with a capacity of more than 30,000.

If it is lower than that figure they collect 55 per cent. When Leinster hosted Leicester in a recent quarter-final at Lansdowne Road, the Irish province pocketed 65 per cent of the 50,000 gate and Leicester picked up a substantial cheque from their 35 per cent share.

Defeat at Bristol will make it impossible for Quins to reap that kind of windfall and their attention will then have to focus on qualifying through the league for next season's competition.