Wasps boss Ian McGeechan is hoping his side's first win of the season can kick-start their Guinness Premiership campaign, starting at Harlequins tomorrow.
The reigning European champions were rock bottom of the Premiership before their much-needed victory over London Irish last Sunday but another win tomorrow could see them up to mid-table respectability.
Director of rugby McGeechan said: ``Last week's win was a result of a hard-working performance by the team.
``We are hoping build on that on Saturday, as we will have to lift our game another level to compete with Quins, who have started very well in the league.''
Harlequins, who have made an encouraging start with three wins from their opening five matches, have lost just once at the Twickenham Stoop in 2007 but that was to Wasps in March.
That was the only away win in the Premiership for 18 months by McGeechan's men but they have won on their last two visits to the Stoop and have beaten Harlequins on their last five meetings going back to September 2003.
Harlequins have winger David Strettle making his first appearance of the season after recovering from the broken toe he sustained training with the England squad in August.
In tomorrow's other match, win-less Worcester look to spring a surprise at champions Leicester, who are hoping to avoid back-to-back home defeats for the first time for four years.
Last week's defeat at Leeds left the Warriors as the only team without a win this season but director of rugby Mike Ruddock is confident the tide will turn.
``There is great spirit and morale in the team,'' he said. ``I can't fault the guys in terms of their commitment and desire to get it right.
``It's just about doing things well all the time under pressure. We need to push on, starting at Leicester.''
Ruddock, whose side have won just one of 10 previous encounters with the Tigers, has made no fewer than seven changes, with back row giant Gavin Quinnell handed a first start of the season.
Ruddock has also teamed up Ryan Powell and Loki Crichton as his new half-back pairing and admitted he had been delighted with the form of his new Samoan recruit since he arrived at Sixways Stadium.
``We will definitely start with Loki, having seen the way he performed against Leeds,'' said Ruddock.
``We put him on the bench as he had only just arrived in the country and learned our calls, but when he came on he was composed and showed authority and leadership. I've been very impressed with him all week.''
Leicester are boosted by the return from World Cup duty of Fijian winger Seru Rabeni.
Scotland utility back Chris Paterson will make his debut for leaders Gloucester alongside fellow World Cup players Marco Bortolami and Akapusi Qera at London Irish on Sunday.
``I am delighted to be able to select a guy of Chris Paterson's quality,'' said Gloucester coach Dean Ryan.
``We know what he brings to the group in terms of his knowledge and understanding of the game and has a mountain of experience as an international-quality player.''
Peter Hewat, London Irish's new signing from New South Wales Waratahs, goes straight into their team at full-back.
Guinness Premiership statistics
Saturday, October 20
Harlequins (4) v Wasps (9)
Harlequins' England winger David Strettle starts his first game of the season after recovering from a broken toe, taking over from Simon Keogh in one of seven changes. Scrum-half Danny Care is also back from injury, replacing the injured Steve So'oialo, while Tosh Masson is preferred to Jordan Turner-Hall in midfield. In the pack, John Brooks starts his first Premiership game for Quins at tighthead prop, Nicolas Spanghero comes into the second row and in the back row Will Skinner and Chris Hala'Ufia replace Paul Volley and Tom Guest.
Wasps make three changes to the side that collected their first win of the season at the expense of London Irish. Tim Payne returns to the front row, where he will line up with fellow prop Nick Adams in place of last week's starters Michael Holford and the injured Pat Barnard. In the back row John Hart comes in for Dan Leo, who takes a turn on the bench alongside Holford.
Last season: Harlequins 16 Wasps 23, Wasps 42 Harlequins 23
Last six league matches: Harlequins W W W L W L Wasps L L D L L W
Top try scorers: Steve So'oialo (Harlequins) 3; Tom Voyce (Wasps) 2
Top point scorers: Chris Malone (Harlequins) 60; Daniel Cipriani (Wasps) 27
Leicester(6) v Worcester (12)
Fijiian winger Seru Rabeni is named in the Leicester team for the first time this season after returning from the World Cup. Ben Herring earns his first start on the openside flank since joining from the Wellington Hurricanes, while Marco Wentzel moves from lock to blindside flanker. Sam Vesty returns at inside centre.
Worcester's back row giant Gavin Quinnell is handed his first start of the season in a much-changed side. Tongan hooker Aleki Lutui is part of a completely new front row alongside Darren Morris and Tevita Taumoepeau, who takes over from the injured Chris Horsman. Ryan Powell and Loki Crichton are the new half-back pairing.
Last season: Worcester 6 Leicester 13, Leicester 40 Worcester 21
Last six league matches: Leicester W W W W L L Worcester W L D L L L
Top try scorers: Matt Cornwell, Jordan Crane, Tom Croft, Ayoola Erinle, Johne Murphy, Matt Smith, Ollie Smith, Boris Stankovich & Tom Varndell (Leicester) 1; Marcel Garvey (Worcester) 2
Top point scorers: Andy Goode (Leicester) 31; Shane Drahm (Worcester) 38
Sunday, October 21
Bristol(8) v Leeds Carnegie (11)
After seven appearances as a replacement, Irish hooker David Blaney will make his first start for Bristol in the only change to the side that beat Newcastle. On the bench Andrew Blowers is selected for the first time since the season's opener against Leicester and Lee Robinson returns after injuring his ankle at Sale on the second weekend.
United States prop Mike MacDonald will make his first start of the season for Leeds after recovering from a rib injury sustained in the World Cup. Samoan prop Fosi Pala'amo reverts to tighthead in place of the injured Colin Noon while Vili Ma'asi makes way at hooker for Rob Rawlinson. Last season's leading tryscorer Richard Welding replaces Leigh Hinton on the wing and Andy Tuilagi is on the bench after recovering from a wrist injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last six league matches: Bristol L L L W L W Leeds Carnegie L L L L L W
Top try scorers: Tom Arscott (Bristol) 2; Stuart Hooper (Leeds Carnegie) 2
Top point scorers: Dave Hill (Bristol) 26; Adam Greendale (Leeds Carnegie) 55
London Irish(10) v Gloucester (1)
Peter Hewat, London Irish's new signing from New South Wales Waratahs, goes straight into the team at full-back in an Exiles team showing five changes to the one that lost to Wasps. Delon Armitage moves to outside centre in place of the injured Dominic Shabbo and Shane Geraghty returns from injury at fly-half. In the pack, Kieran Roche comes in at blindside flanker, with Declan Danaher switching to openside and Steffon Armitage dropping to the bench, and Phil Murphy starts at number eight in place of Richard Thorpe.
Scotland utility back Chris Paterson will make his Gloucester debut on the wing in one of six changes to the team that beat Sale. Patrice Collazo comes in at loosehead prop in place of Nick Wood, lock Marco Bortolami takes over from Will James and Fijian flanker Akapusi Qera replaces Alasdair Strokosch. Iain Balshaw returns at full-back with Olly Morgan is ruled out with a hamstring strain and Mike Prendergast takes over at scrum-half from Rory Lawson.
Last season: Gloucester 15 London Irish 3, London Irish 11 Gloucester 22
Last six league matches: London Irish L L W L L L Gloucester W W W W W W
Top try scorers: Steffon Armitage (London Irish) 2; Lesley Vainikolo (Gloucester) 5
Top point scorers: Eoghan Hickey (London Irish) 24; Ryan Lamb (Gloucester) 62
Newcastle(5) v Bath (3)
Newcastle have a new-look pack, bringing into the front row Jon Golding, Matt Thompson and Micky Ward - Joe McDonnell, Andy Long and David Wilson all drop to the bench - and Andy Perry taking the place of Jason Oakes at lock. Lee Dickson replaces James Grindal at scrum-half and Dutchman Tim Visser comes in at outside centre for Adam Dehaty.
Bath are without Nick Abendanon, who was a late call-up for England, so Michael Stephenson switches to full-back and Andy Higgins takes over on the wing. Centre Alex Crockett is promoted from the bench and will captain the side in place of Zak Feaunati, whose place at number eight is taken by Daniel Browne.
Last season: Newcastle 12 Bath 20, Bath 20 Newcastle 14
Last six league matches: Newcastle L W L W W L Bath W W L W W W
Top try scorers: Tom May (Newcastle) 3; Daniel Browne & Jack Cuthbert (Bath) 2
Top point scorers: Matt Burke (Newcastle) 20; Shaun Berne (Bath) 51