THIS is a pretty momentous season as Harlequins celebrate their 150th anniversary and the noises coming out of the club are certainly bullish that they can mark it in style, writes John Payne.

Director of rugby John Kingston has spoken about recreating the glories of 2012, easily Quins’ most successful season of the professional era when they were crowned champions.

Since then, Quins have rarely threatened to reach those heights again and it is worth remembering the humiliating nature of the 62-24 defeat in Conor O’Shea’s final game at the Stoop.

The fact O’Shea hardly went out on a glorious high gives Kingston the opportunity to put his own stamp on a set-up that has seen Graham Rowntree and Nick Easter take senior roles.

Sometimes in sport – as most pundits expect Leicester City to find out in the Premier League – staying at the top is harder than getting there.

That has definitely been the case for Quins for whom success has not completely bred success.

Notably, their results when their star names have been away on international duty have indicated a slight over-reliance on academy products.

That won’t be an issue when Quins face newly promoted Bristol Rugby in the London Double Header this Saturday.

Tricky trips to Sale and Exeter follow and should provide an early marker of Quins’ potential this season.

Quins know they can beat anyone on their day but whether or not they can match the likes of Saracens over the course of the campaign remains to be seen.

However, at the least, Kingston knows last season’s seventh place finish was well below par.