Deano's history boys

6:44am Thursday 1st May 2008

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Director of rugby Dean Richards believes a top-four finish for Harlequins could match Newcastle's Allied Dunbar Premiership title triumph a decade ago.

England's director of elite rugby Rob Andrew led an Va'aiga Tuigamala-inspired Falcons to the trophy in 1998 after splashing the cash under chairman Sir John Hall to earn promotion from National Division One in 1997.

Quins, promoted back to the Guinness Premiership in 2006, are on the brink of the play-offs for the first time, and go into the biggest league match in history knowing two more wins would be enough.

Former England number eight Richards claimed two European Cups and four league titles during a stint in charge of Leicester Tigers.

But the 44-year-old admits a place in the top four with a team of relative youngsters would rank among his proudest achievements.

"You have to bear in mind the last team to come up from Division One and go on to win the title was Newcastle and that was 10 years ago. The game is a lot more professional now," he said.

"It is far more difficult to make the necessary improvements to be able to make that sort of step in such a short period of time.

"We have not brought in big-name players.

"We have got a group of young players together in a good, working environment that they enjoy being a part of.

"That for me is the key difference. We have not thrown money at it.

"I would be extremely proud of a top-four finish, and I would be delighted for what I believe to be an outstanding backroom staff here."

Quins enter their biggest game of the season on the back of a two-week break following a 13-6 defeat at Heineken Cup semi-finalists London Irish last time out.

That defeat means Richards' men must outmuscle Sale on Sunday and former club Leicester on the final day to be certain of a place in the knock-out stages.

An heroic defensive effort was only enough for a bonus point against the Exiles, and the Stoop boss knows his side will have to better that display to challenge Philipe Saint Andre's star-studded team.

"Everything has been focused on this game," he added.

"I think Irish probably deserved to win, but it is not even part of our thoughts now.

"There is no way in a game of this magnitute that we can afford to let our concentration slip in defence or attack. That is going to be key.

"We are under no illusions as to how hard it is going to be."