Returning Smith to bring 'energy' for Quins in derby
Marcus Smith scored 114 points in 13 Premiership appearances for Harlequins last season
- Published
Harlequins are set to welcome back Marcus Smith for Sunday's London derby against Saracens, with senior coach Jason Gilmore saying it will be "huge" to have a man he describes as the team's "quarterback" on the pitch.
The 26-year-old England fly-half has not played for his club side yet this season after representing the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia in the summer.
Saracens have started the new Prem season with two big wins and are top of the table, while Quins have suffered consecutive defeats and have picked up just a sole losing bonus point against Bath on the opening day.
Harlequins completed the double over their city rivals last season, however.
"It's huge for us [to have Smith back]. He's our quarterback, he's our guy. He's a British Lion. He loves playing for Quins. He loves playing at The Stoop," Gilmore told BBC Radio London.
"The energy and confidence that he brings to the other boys, when you sit in the dressing room and Smithy's in there, you definitely get a boost."
Smith went on the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia
Despite conceding 76 points across two defeats to begin the season, there have been positives for Gilmore's side.
Flanker Will Evans scored a first-half hat-trick in a dominant opening 40 minutes against defending league champions Bath.
And Quins ended a 1,723-day wait for victory over Sarries when they beat them 17-10 at The Stoop last October, before fighting back from 12-0 down at half-time to win 23-12 when the two sides met at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in March.
"Probably a little bit different this year, obviously [we] haven't started the year how we'd have wanted to," Gilmore said.
"But when you knock them over home and away last year, it gives you good evidence that how you want to play, if you're prepared to stick to the task for 80 minutes and put the grind in against Sarries, we can get there.
"They'll be stinging from losing those two games so we'll need to be ready to go from the first whistle."