CONOR O'Shea has backed Rory Clegg to return to his best when Harlequins visit Northampton Saints tonight.

The Quins fly-half hit the headlines for both the right and wrong reasons in Saturday's 11-9 win at Exeter, missing a number of kicks at goal, but slotting the crucial one when it mattered to earn victory two minutes from time.

And such in director of rugby O'Shea's faith in Clegg that he is prepared to stick with him at Franklins Gardens, despite former All Black Nick Evans possibly being back to full fitness.

O'Shea said: “Cleggy made the headlines for the kicks he missed and for the one which won it for us, but what wasn't mentioned was how good his general play was.

“I am sure his kicking will be back to its usual standard at Northampton. Nick Evans could play, but I want him to be 100 per cent, and I'm more than happy with Rory.

“We had a lot of guys missing for the game, but we got the confidence flowing again after the loss to Saracens, and we will need that kind of bouncebackability as the season goes on.”

Quins, for welcomed Tom Guest back for the Exeter game, could also be boosted by the return of Ollie Kohn and Maurie Fa'asavalu for the Northampton game.

And with Goerge Lowe and Karl Dickson due back by the end of the month – the latter, crucially, just before Danny Care heads off for the Six Nations – Quins could soon be back to full strength.

In the meantime, O'Shea is expecting another tough time on the road, with Northampton sure to provide as stern a test as Exeter did.

He added: “We knew it would be difficult as Exeter beat us at their place last season, and gave us a real physical going-over when we beat them at The Stoop.

"You could say we were lucky to win, but we created so many chances, we could have had two or three more tries. Northampton are outstanding at home, so will provide another stern test for us.”