I have been in conversation with my Glaws mate: comparing teams, considering strengths and seeing how we can both make it to the final ("beat Exeter and Sarries, easy!")

I was just wondering what our thoughts were about possible changes for the weekend?

Ben Tapuai has been very good but I wonder if Saili will get a chance to start. I expect Smith to be back in and hope Care is back. Marchant, Chisholm Sr., Earle and Brown should make up the remainder of the backs, if Gabs and Murley are still out.

In the pack, I expect Marler to start, although Boyce played well. Elia, Collier, Symons and Horwill should remain. I wonder if Dombrandt will be given a rest? Chisholm Jr. is a great option and must be pawing the ground for a start! Robshaw and Clifford should get the nod, with Glynn (who was good last week) maybe a bit unlucky to drop to the bench.

Hmmmmmmm! 

I wonder whether Marchant will be rotated out, with the Sarries game in mind. Collier too possibly, based on number of starts recently. It might depend how Gustard sees the games - better to bank on a win at home and regard Sarries as a long shot, or try for both and risk getting nothing.

I agree with TBQs team.  No need to rotate, we have 2 weeks till we play Sarries.  If Care does not make it, I expect Lewis will start despite having baldwin on loan.  I think Chisholm has played well on the wing so no disaster if Gabs/Murley are injured

Is Morris injured or just out of favour?

For me, Care being back is the biggest factor in whether we can be confident or not.

I'd play

Brown
Earle
Marchant
Saili
Morris/Chisholm
Smith
Care (or Lewis otherwise)
Dombrandt
Chisholm
Robshaw
Symons
Horwill
Collier
Elia
Marler

Boyce/Auterac, Ward, Seb, Glynn, Clifford, Baldwin, Lang, Taps/Morris

To my mind, this weekend is a game that Quins need to prioritise. Win this, and we are significantly more secure in 3rd place, and making the playoffs has to be the priority. We don’t need to win against Sarries or Exeter to finish in the top 4, though picking up bonus points would be a big help.

I hope we field the strongest team we can - not to the point of risking players who aren’t fully fit - but we are not so secure in our game that we can afford to rest players for a home game against our closest competition.

1 Marler
2 Elia
3 Collier
4 Symons
5 Horwill
6 Robshaw
7 Clifford
8 Dombrandt

9 Care (please be fit in time)
10 Smith
11 Ibitoye (hoping he's fit again)
12 Saili
13 Marchant
14 Earle
15 Brown

Need our best 15 available out there for this one!

I like that lineup, with possibly Alofa on the wing. At the risk or derision and criticism, I'd like to see a few of our lesser seen players make the bench - Alofa (if not starting) and Big Mat could both have a good impact. I doubt we'll see Walker though.

Back row is an interesting one. Clifford has been fantastic, Chis is a real strength, Dombrandt is fast approaching "difficult to drop" status, although nowhere near Robshaw levels, and of course the great man himself. Four into three doesn't go, so we start to look at rotation. It's a nice problem to have.

I like that lineup, with possibly Alofa on the wing. At the risk or derision and criticism, I'd like to see a few of our lesser seen players make the bench - Alofa (if not starting) and Big Mat could both have a good impact. I doubt we'll see Walker though.

Back row is an interesting one. Clifford has been fantastic, Chis is a real strength, Dombrandt is fast approaching "difficult to drop" status, although nowhere near Robshaw levels, and of course the great man himself. Four into three doesn't go, so we start to look at rotation. It's a nice problem to have.

Out of interest, not derision or criticism, why would you like to see some of the lesser seen players on the bench rather than our strongest team? Or do you feel that they would come in and add as much if not more than the current preferred squad?

True. The problem is not that now we're getting towards the business end of the season, our remaining home games become even more important in terms of qualifying for the playoffs so it's a risk to bring in some players who are arguably not as good as the current incumbents. It's a shame there's no A league at the moment to keep these guys match fit. If it's a choice on the bench between one of Dombrandt/Clifford/Chisholm and Luamanu, I'd pick one of the first 3 any day.

Alofa is a good bench option, but again, I'd go for Saili over him

I'd be more tempted to rotate the squad a bit for the Sarries and exeter away games where we're less likely to come away with a win.