Harlequins coach Tony Diprose has challenged the club’s understudies to make a big impression in the LV= Cup on Saturday.

Director of rugby Conor O’Shea’s men host Leicester Tigers in the competition, licking their wounds following last week’s shock Heineken Cup exit after a 9-8 defeat at Connacht.

No fewer than 15 first choice starters have missed club training this week as Quins bid to maintain their chances of reaching the knock out stages of the domestic cup.

Jordan Turner-Hall, Mike Brown, Joe Marler and Chris Robshaw are all on England elite player squad duty preparing for the forthcoming Six Nations.

While Karl Dickson, Matt Hopper, Chris Brooker, Joe Gray, George Robson and Ugo Monye have been in Exeter with the England Saxons squad vying for the chance to face Ireland A tomorrow.

Number eight Nick Easter, scrum half Danny Care, fly half Nick Evans and prop James Johnston have been rested, while Maurie Fa’asavalu is struggling with a knock suffered on Friday night.

And Diprose, who has drawn a line under last week’s European disappointment, has told the likes of full back Ross Chisholm and centre Tom Casson to deliver the goods in their absence.

“We had the opportunities to win the game on Friday and we are disappointed we were not able to take them,” he said.

“If you look at where we are, we are still very much involved in four competitions at this stage of the season and we’d have taken that in September.

“Two or three players who have played a lot of rugby this year will be rested.

“Will Skinner is chomping at the bit to start, Ross Chisholm has been waiting all season and the same can be said for Tom Casson.

“They have got that chance now and they must take it.”