Nick Easter today warned Harlequins' European and domestic rivals his side have both the self-belief and ability to claim a league and cup double.

Dean Richards's team have already qualified for the last eight of the Heineken Cup for the first time in 11 years and are well placed in the Guinness Premiership to challenge for a play-off spot.

Easter's impressive form at the base of the scrum has been instrumental in driving the club on to new heights this season.

The England No8 has anchored the pack impressively to allow exciting youngsters Danny Care and Jordan Turner-Hall to push their own claims for international honours.

They face Llanelli Scarlets at The Stoop on Saturday knowing victory will almost certainly guarantee them an all-important home quarter-final, possibly across the road at Twickenham.

Quins drew 50,000 supporters to the home of English rugby when they hosted Leicester in the Premiership last month and chief executive Mark Evans is considering a similar move if the chance arises in Europe.

Despite a disappointing recent run that has seen Quins go four games without a win, Easter, 30, believes his club are finally ready to deliver some silverware this season.

"If you're going to be in a competition like this you have to be in it to win it," Easter said. "I know I certainly am and I'm pretty convinced the rest of the coaching staff and the players are.

"With the work we have put in over the past few years it is a sign of how far we have come. We've gone through a sticky patch, as we have in the past couple of seasons, and we have to get out of it. The Heineken Cup and the Premiership will go down to the wire.

"But why be in these competitions if you don't think you can win them?

"When we are on top of our game, with the players we have got, we are more than a match for anyone."

Quins, who slipped to defeat against Ulster in horrendous conditions in Belfast on Saturday, made it through to the Heineken Cup knock-out stages on Sunday courtesy of the Scarlets' surprise win over Stade Francais.

Easter knows his team will have a fight on their hands this weekend if they want to avoid a possible away trip to holders Munster.

"We want to get back to playing the sort of rugby we were playing at the start of the season," he said. "We have to get that momentum and winning habit back. We know how important it is to get a home quarter-final."

Easter will fly to Portugal on Sunday for an intensive three-day camp with England ahead of next month's Six Nations opener against Italy.

The 18-stone forward was one of England's few successes last November as Martin Johnson's team suffered a series of humiliating defeats.

"We were definitely caught short on the fitness side," Easter said. "The grind of the Premiership must play a part but the previous England team who were so successful managed to deal with it. We have two weeks before the first game so fitness levels have got be at a certain standard if we want to become world beaters."

Meanwhile, Leinster lock Malcolm O'Kelly could face a lengthy ban after being cited for allegedly stamping on Phil Vickery's head during Saturday's ill-tempered clash with Wasps .

O'Kelly received a yellow card for his actions from referee Christophe Berdos, but citing commissioner Aurwel Morgan has decided the incident requires closer inspection. O'Kelly will attend an independent disciplinary panel hearing in Dublin on Thursday.

* Easter was speaking at an event staged by Greene King IPA, the official beer of England and Harlequins