More than seven months have passed since Harlequins opened the Paul Gustard era with a six-try summer smashing of Sale at The Stoop — and plenty more has gone right since.
Quins are on course for a semi-final in the Premiership and have secured one in the European Challenge Cup, away at Clermont over Easter.
The dog days of 2017/18, which came to a head 12 months ago when Quins were booed off after a home thrashing by soon-to-be-relegated London Irish.
John Kingston’s departure, which paved the way for Gustard’s appointment, was confirmed the following Monday.
On Friday night, Quins face Sale again, at the AJ Bell Stadium, and are under no illusions that they face a far tougher challenge than they did in September. Sale are in sixth place and hunting a play-off berth of their own.
“The weather’s turned and it’s going to be a typical northern night I think,” says scrum-half Danny Care.
“It’ll be an incredibly physical challenge — it’s a really tough place to play. They make it uncomfortable. We’re aware of their threat.”
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