WASPS expect Harlequins to be much better than they were during their 26-23 win in the Aviva Premiership last month.

The sides cross swords in the European Rugby Champions Cup at Adams Park on Sunday, and after Wasps lost to Leinster last weekend this is a game they absolutely have to win.

However, Quins shook off much of their early season sluggishness in a 25-9 opening day win over Castres last weekend and will arrive at Adams Park with their chests out.

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young said: “Harlequins haven’t started as well as they’d have liked this season, but nowhere near as bad as some people have been suggesting.

“But with the players they’ve got they’re always going to spark at some stage and that’s what’s happened. Every game they’ve got a little bit better and it culminated at the weekend with a very good performance.

“I expect them to be a lot better than when we last played them. But we have to be better as well and we’ve proved on a few occasions that we are.

“We were very good against Bath and Northampton and they’re the type of performance levels we’re going to have to reach at the weekend.

“I’m sure you’ll see two teams on Sunday playing better than last time, but this is a must-win game.”

This is Wasps’ first season back in Europe’s top club competition after an absence of three years.

Leinster away was among the toughest assignments they could have had first us.

Young said: “We’re disappointed we lost last week and we’re never going to rejoice after a loss, but we got a losing bonus point and if we can get a home win and come away after two rounds with a win and a losing bonus point we’ll still be in there with a big shout.

“We’re playing against a team that we know very well and I’m sure it’s going to be another nail-biter. We seem to do them better than anybody else and it probably going to go right to the wire with one team sneaking it at the end.

“But hopefully it can be us.”