Quin or bust for ambitious Exiles

IRELAND’s Bob Casey will lead London Irish into battle against Harlequins warning that defeat would conclude a season of failure at the Madejski Stadium.

The capital rivals clash at Twickenham Stoop tonight in the second of the day’s Guinness Premiership semi-finals.

Director of rugby Toby Booth believes Irish have made clear progress since 2006 but admits they must get to the Twickenham showpiece on May 16 to continue their upward curve.

Reaching the last four of the Heineken Cup last year, when they succumbed to Toulouse, pointed to a club capable of challenging at the highest level.

But Ireland second row Casey insists it is time for his trophy-hungry Exiles to start turning potential into silverware.

“We would view it as a failure not to reach the final at this stage,” said the club captain. “We’ve been in the semi-finals before and we’re desperate to go one step further.

“Even though we’ve made great strides this season if we don’t get to that final, it will feel like failure.

“This squad has massive potential but we need silverware and we need it soon. Success is judged on silverware – you can’t always be building, you have to win things.

“This club is desperate for silverware and so are the players. We feel that this is our time.”

Preparing for their second appearance in the Premiership play-offs, Irish will be hoping for a better outcome than three years ago.

After finishing third in the table – also their final position this season – they were routed 40-8 by Leicester in a match they entered already satisfied at having even qualified for the last four.

“Reaching the top four last time was the prize,” said Casey. “We went to Leicester thinking it would be a bonus if anything good came out of it.

“This time we have a better squad and are more experienced. We’ve played in big games now and have come out the right side.”

Irish’s chances of progressing further have been hit by the return of Quins fly-half Nick Evans from a thigh injury. Former All Black Evans sustained the damage in last month’s 6-5 Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat by Leinster but has been passed fit for tomorrow.

The day’s play-off action opens at Walkers Stadium where Leicester, who topped the Premiership at the end of the regular season, host Bath.

The Tigers field 14 players who started the epic Heineken Cup semi-final victory over Cardiff with only Toby Flood missing because of an Achilles injury.

Flood, out for up to six months after undergoing surgery, is replaced at fly-half by Sam Vesty with Aaron Mauger promoted from the bench to inside centre.

“It is very disappointing to lose Toby just as we have got a number of players back from injury problems,” said head coach Richard Cockerill.

Leicester played 100 minutes against Cardiff and still needed a penalty shoot out to prevail, but England hooker Lee Mears denies they will be fatigued tomorrow.

“They will have played a lot of rugby but at the same time they have probably got one of the best squads of the whole league,” the Bath forward said.

“They will know what they want and it will be a tough game.”

Centre Alex Crockett returns to lead Bath after recovering from a rib injury while winger Joe Maddock is back after overcoming a hamstring problem.