WASPS will run out in front of a sold-out Welford Road tomorrow determined to prove that their re-emergence is real.

The black and golds looked like they were repeating last season’s anti-climactic finish as they lost five in a row earlier this year.

But each of their last three matches have been better than the one before it and wins over Worcester and Gloucester either side of a competitive defeat to Saracens have revived interest.

Dai Young said: “Last season I felt a real deterioration in many aspects.

“Fitness was one and the boys looked flat and lacked energy.

“I didn’t sense that this year. I didn’t think we weren’t a million miles from it and felt if we kept on knocking on the door we’d get what we needed.

“This season we’ve been competitive in most games and the results haven’t always told the story.

“We all know we’ve lacked a little bit of a cutting edge and stardust, which we had last year and were still failing towards the end.

“This year I felt we were much closer to winning games and I don’t think the margins of performance between winning and losing were that great.”

If they do finish strongly, Wasps could find themselves playing for another six weeks.

Young said: “We’ve got some big games coming up. We’re still in with a shout of getting into Europe and we’ve got a semi-final round the corner as well.

“There is still a lot of interest but going to places like Welford Road will test the squad and give us an indication of where we are.”