RIKI Flutey still has many friends from his time at London Irish, but he says that will count for nothing at 3pm on Sunday afternoon.

In fact, insists the proud Maori, having mates on the opposite side will make him play even harder.

He said: “I always love playing against London Irish and it’s great to go back to the Madejski Stadium.

“It’s one of the best turfs in the Premiership and supporters there are absolutely fantastic.

“I’ve still got some good friends at the club and I’ve got a few in the Irish team, but it’s all business.”

Consequently, Flutey doesn’t get involved in idle banter in the week before a game. Texts saying this or that don’t fly between him and Irish stars like Seilala Mapusua.

Flutey said: “I don’t get into that in the week leading into a game playing against one of my best mates. We let each other get on with the work we’ve got to do and then have a crack after the game.”

But with such close ties, it’s tempting to think the hits might not be as hard and the runs not quite as rapid.

In fact, the opposite it true – against a mate, reveals Flutey, there is more to prove.

He said: “The harder you play against your mate, the more respect you gain. That’s how we see it. You look at one of my best mates, Seilala Mapusua, that’s how we approach games and that’s why I’ve got so much respect for the guy.

“We’ve been playing with and against each other since we were 16, coming through the New Zealand age grades. I can’t speak highly enough about him, but there’s been so many tackles I can’t remember them.”

A game like this, against players that are a thread through his career, might just be what Flutey needs.

He is a massively talented player who operates on flair and enjoyment. Sometimes this season though, it has looked like his natural effervescence has faded in a struggling Wasps team.

He said: “I still wake up in the morning and feel privileged to be in the position I’m in.

“Coming in to do what you love everyday and being around your mates is fantastic. That to me tells me I’m still loving what I’m doing and I’m still young. Compared to Shawsy I’m still a pup.”

And this summer could yet be the highlight of his career – a world cup in his homeland.

However, he’s got work to do after losing his place in the England side due to injury.

He said: “I’ve been involved in the squad. I’ve been 23rd man in most of the games.

“But I’d been injured for quite some time and the boys have been winning so it’s pretty hard to change a winning team.

“My focus was to put as much pressure as I could on those guys in my position whenever I was training with England.

“It’s disappointed not being selected. But you have to change that mentality and do what you can to get back in there. That’s been my attitude.”

First up though, is Irish on Sunday and learning the lessons dished out by Saints.

Flutey said: “Northampton put a lot of pressure on our breakdowns and created a lot of turnovers. Probably one of the things we missed going into the game was not respecting the fact that they’ve got some big boys and can turn over ball if we get isolated into them.

“But we’ve looked at the areas we can improve and training has been good.”