Missing a year of rugby through injury is making Mark Lambert appreciate the opportunities he is getting now all the more.

The Harlequins prop is one of a handful of fringe players who have made a real impact in the EDF Energy Cup ties of the past few weeks as boss Dean Richards has given youth a chance.

But the 23-year-old, who came up through Quins academy system, didn't expect first-team rugby so soon.

He said: "Injuries can happen to anyone. It happened to me last season, and it has happened to John Brooks this season, which is how I've got my chance.

"I didn't expect it at the beginning of the season because I had been out for a year, but I am so hungry to play rugby, and to get opportunities like these are brilliant.

"But it helps that I'm at a club where so many young players have had an impact in the last couple of seasons - like Danny Care, Tom Guest, Chris Robshaw and Mike Brown.

"Dean has show real faith in the younger players."

Quins beat Worcester 27-14 in their final EDF game last Saturday, with two tries from Robshaw and another from Seb Stegmann, plus 10 points from the boot of Chris Malone, putting them firmly in the driving seat at half-time.

Although former Quin Pat Sanderson narrowed the gap within minutes of the restart, Quins sealed victory at the death when Tosh Masson broke to set up Mike Brown for the third try, and Nick Evans added the extras in his first appearance since the opening day victory over Saracens.

It was not enough to keep Quins in the competition, but Richards was not disappointed with his side's EDF campaign.

He said: "It's always difficult when you lose an early game, as we did at Swansea - albeit by a point - it becomes very difficult to get through.

"So we saw it as a great opportunity for our youngsters, to show us what they've got, and some have played very well for us over the past few weeks."

Quins have no game this weekend, but Care, Ugo Monye and the recalled Nick Easter should all start for England in

Saturday's international against the Pacific Islanders.

They get back down to Premiership business against Wasps in a fortnights time.