HARLEQUINS boss Mark Evans has called for his Zurich Premiership strugglers to show mental toughness when they tackle basement rivals Wor-cester at Sixways tomorrow (2pm).
Almost a month into the league campaign, neither club has troubled the scorers in terms of league wins, scratching around instead by collecting two losing bonus points each.
Premiership newcomers Worcester, already beaten at home this term by Newcastle and Bath, will equal their worst run of league results -- five defeats in Midlands League Two 15 years ago -- if Quins triumph.
But an away win cannot be guaranteed, given that Evans' team last achieved such a feat in the top flight way back on January 4.
"Outwardly, the morale is very good," insisted Quins chief executive Evans.
"There is certainly no back-biting or cliques or anything like that, so in that sense it is very good.
"But if you ask me what their confidence is like? It is always the case that when you get on a losing run, your confidence does take a knock and that is when you have got to front up and be very tough mentally."
He added: "The longer you are on a losing run, the more difficult it becomes."
Former Wales and Lions three-quarter Dafydd James makes his first league start for Quins, teaming up with England centre Will Greenwood, who has recovered from a head injury.
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