It’s amazing how ten minutes can change a season. Cast your mind back to January and Wasps trailed Worcester 13-22 and were staring down the barrel of a fourth straight Premiership defeat.

Three quick tries later and a 32-22 win lifted Wasps into the top six. Since that poor performance, they have won the next four league games, three of which have been on the road against last season’s top four. When you consider that Wasps picked up just two away wins all last season, one of which came against London Welsh who lost all 22 Premiership games, winning at Leinster, London Irish, Northampton, Saracens and Bath (twice) has been a remarkable turnaround.

Read more: Wasps' Kearnan Myall pleased with away form after Bath success

This Sunday, Wasps welcome Harlequins to the Ricoh Arena in a game that has been billed as an “Old Rivals Showdown.”

Although this fixture has not been a local derby for many years, there is certainly no love lost between the two sides, perhaps because fixtures between the two sides often produce nail-biting contests.

For two seasons running, the Premiership fixture computer pitted Wasps and Quins together on the opening weekend of the season in the London Double-Header at Twickenham.

The 2012/13 meeting was possibly the craziest game of rugby I have ever seen live. Wasps arrived at HQ for a new season having come through a relegation battle and survived thanks to a combination of Sam Vesty celebrating early and a Tom Varndell tackle, while Quins had finished the previous season top of the league then gone on to beat Leicester in the final.

Tom Varndell, here pictured scoring against Gloucester, is remembered by Wasps fans for his timely tackle. 

With most of the 65,000 Twickenham crowd expecting a Harlequins win, Wasps roared out the blocks and by the hour mark had scored five tries and had two more disallowed to lead 40-13. It still beggars belief how Wasps blew a 27-point lead that afternoon, but four tries in eight minutes plus a late Nick Evans penalty saw Quins sneak home 42-40.

Dai Young has in the past described Wasps v Quins games as ‘not being good for the heart’ and it is hard to disagree with him since the next three meetings after that 12/13 Twickenham thriller were all decided by a single point.

Last season’s games did not follow the dramatic script, and Quins were battered on their first visit to the Ricoh last February. Harlequins traditionally struggle during the Six Nations and with Wasps currently flying, Dai Young’s men kick off as favourites on Sunday.

The next two matches at the Ricoh, against Harlequins and Leicester have become season-defining games, and if Wasps win both the top four becomes a real possibility.