JOE Gray is realistic enough to know Harlequins won't go on a second 14-match unbeaten run – but sees no reason why they can't get straight back on the winning trail.
Quins' club record-breaking 14 wins out of 14 from the start of the season came to an end with last Friday's Heineken Cup home defeat to Toulouse.
But former Northampton hooker Gray reckons staying in Europe's premier rugby competition is all the motivation they need to bounce straight back when they travel to France for the return game on Sunday.
Gray said: “We all knew the run had to come to an end at some point, but there's no shame in losing to Toulouse – they haven't won the Heineken Cup four times for nothing, and it's a learning curve for our young side.
“We now have the chance to bounce back straight away against the same side. We know, despite all those wins, that if we don't get a result, we will be out of the Heineken Cup, so the pressure will be on. But it's no different to when we won in Munster or beat Stade Francais in Cardiff.
“I am proud to have been part of such a good run. I know it sounds boring, but all through it we just took one game at a time and didn't think about any records, and that's what we'll be doing for the rest of the season too.”
Gray, who has been rotated with Chris Brooker in the hooker position this season, believes having strength in depth in each position has been the key to Quins' success so far this season.
Even when big names like Danny Care, Nick Easter and Ugo Monye have been unavailable, those who have stepped in have performed superbly.
Gray said: “It shows how good the team is that everybody is fighting for their own positions. It's like there is no number one for any position. Chris Brooker is a quality hooker, and we have been sharing the shirt for quite a while.
“But we are now doing the same across the park, with lads like Luke Wallace, Tom Casson, Matt Hopper and Seb Stegmann all staking claims for a regular place, which also means we have quality coming off the bench too.”
