Evans sees a lot of similarities between the two clubs, who will be fighting it out for a place in the Amlin Cup semi finals.

And the Kiwi fly half expects another epic encounter to rival the 2011 Amlin final between the two sides, as well as their Heineken Cup clashes in 2008.

He said: “They are a quality side, you only have to look at the form they are producing at the moment. In fact, they will probably be the best Stade Francais we have come up against.

“We've shown we can beat teams away from home in France against the likes of Toulon, Toulouse, Biarritz and Racing Metro, as well as running Clermont close. We thrive on these sort of games.

“Like us, they like to play with width and tempo, so it will be like playing ourselves. Both teams like to throw the ball around.

“We will have to be at our best, and we are starting to play more like we used to. We will just have to make sure inaccuracies don't let us down like against London Irish at the weekend.”

Evans was a pivotal figure in those memorable past meetings with Stade. It was his last minute conversion of a Gonzalo Camacho try which wrested the Amlin Cup from the French side's grasp in 2011, and his last gasp drop goal three years earlier saw Quins do a Heineken Cup double over Stade with victory at The Stoop following an equally dramatic win in Paris.

Evans said: “That Amlin final was a turning point for us in terms of us a winning mentality. The Premiership and the LV Cup followed and suddenly we're expecting to win trophies.

“Nervous is not the word for that conversion, I was more excited really. I relish those moments, every kicker wants to land the big conversions, it's what I play the game for . I rolled the dice and it went over.

“With the drop goal at The Stoop, there was a long pause before it was given, but I was not nervous as I knew it has gone over. That was incredible after we had won in Paris too. I had never been in a game like it before and I probably won't again. It wasn't the prettiest of games, but you don't paint pictures in the record books.”

Quins warmed up for the clash by giving their Premiership play off hopes a shot in the arm with a 23-9 win over London Irish on Saturday, putting them six points of the top four with four games remaining.