Harlequins must channel the defensive steel they demonstrated in Cardiff with their season on the line in the Investec Champions Cup this weekend.

That is the view of Quins great and former skipper Chris Robshaw ahead of the last 16 encounter with Sale Sharks at the Stoop on Saturday. Both Quins and Sale have disappointed in the Gallagher PREM this season, with neither realistically challenging for a play-off spot.

But after the Londoners stunned Bristol Bears at Principality Stadium, winning 18-14 even without England duo Marcus Smith and Chandler Cunningham-South, Robshaw believes that they have shown the blueprint to follow for the remainder of the season, with a Champions Cup run now their priority.

“I think both Sale and Quins are pinning their respective hopes for the season on this game,” said Robshaw, who will be part of the Premier Sports punditry team providing live coverage of Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup last 16 matches this weekend.

“For Quins to raise their game, they went away to a good Bristol side, the Big Game equivalent, was really impressive. What impressed me most was that defensively they looked a lot more solid, a lot more with it. If they got broken, they were working hard to get back on defence, they were working off the line.

“From a Quins perspective, they are much more positive and that was without a couple of the England guys, I’m sure Marcus will come back in and Cunningham-South as well. I think they will be positive and the Champions Cup has brought the best out of them.”

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The result came off the back of a busy week for Harlequins, with the announcement that legendary Crusaders coach Robbie Deans will join next season as performance director, working above head coach Jason Gilmore, while long-time Exeter Chiefs forwards coach Rob Hunter will also be part of the set-up from next year.

Robshaw is optimistic that those arrivals can help the club bounce back from a disappointing campaign which has seen them win just three league games to date.

One of the keys to turning around that form will be getting back to one of Harlequins’ strengths and becoming a threat off turnover ball once again, having struggled to convert chances this year.

He added: “It’s been a disappointing season for Quins so far but they have the opportunity to do something special in the Champions Cup. To have the opportunity to get into another quarter-final is a massive chance for the club.

“I think they will do it. I think they are in a slightly stronger position than Sale, you look at some of the injuries that Sale have, the Curry twins in particular, they are a pairing you want on the pitch. Rob du Preez might not be fully fit, I think they will have enough firepower, being at home will be a big factor.

“They took opportunities last week, they were much more clinical. I saw a stat that they haven’t scored off turnovers in the Prem this season. Everyone, when they think of Quins, they think of turnovers, and they haven’t done that this season. I think a lot of that is a confidence thing.

“When you are playing well, the ball bounces for you and offloads stick. When you are on the other side of that, you’re not quite on the same page as each other. Hopefully a win can fix things pretty quickly.”

Knockout Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup rugby is live on Premier Sports this Easter weekend with quarter-final places at stake. Chris Robshaw is part of the Premier Sports team bringing every minute of the drama from the biggest international club rugby games live across the UK and Ireland. Visit premiersports.com to join in from just £11.99 a month @ PremSports.tv