Number eight Nick Easter is hoping Harlequins have learned from experience and make the next few weeks count.

Director of rugby Conor O’Shea’s men return to Premiership action against Wasps on Sunday after last Friday’s 35-5 LV=Cup humbling at Cardiff Blues.

They then face Newcastle Falcons, Gloucester and Worcester, knowing wins will be key to hopes of securing a top four finish in May.

Quins stumbled to home defeats to Wasps and Exeter Chiefs during the Six Nations period 12 months ago which saw them lose a little momentum going into the closing stages of a campaign that ended in a Premiership semi-final defeat at Leicester Tigers.

And Easter insists that cannot happen again.

“This is a massive period for us. We cannot afford to slip up,” he said.

“This time last year we were top of the league and lost a couple of games which took some momentum out of us.

“The international periods can either help you gather momentum or it can stop you in your tracks. Our task is to finish the Six Nations period in a better place than when it began.”