Prop Ceri Jones insists Quins are looking up the table rather than nervously over their shoulders at the Guinness Premiership drop-zone.

Director of rugby Conor O’Shea’s men crashed 24-13 at Bath in his first game in charge on Saturday to leave them just seven points above bottom side Worcester Warriors as they bid to secure a top-six finish.

Quins host fellow strugglers Newcastle Falcons and Leeds Carnegie in the next ten days knowing defeats will leave them precariously placed with trips to Saracens and Leicester Tigers to follow before the visit of Sale Sharks.

But Jones is looking at the next 160 minutes of rugby as an opportunity to close in on a Heineken Cup spot, rather than a battle to secure top flight safety.

“I think we are still very much looking up the table. The boys are still very positive and there is a good buzz around the place,” he said.

“We need to stay focused on our jobs and on getting into the top six rather than on what is going on below us.

“Conor has come in and everyone has reacted well. We played well at the weekend and but for a couple of defensive lapses, could have won.”

Jones picked up the Etihad player of the month award for February, which he claims came much to the disappointment of a few names at the Stoop.

“I don’t remember anyone from the front row getting a player of the month award, and I think some of the backs were a bit put out,” he added.

“It is one in the cap for us forwards and it represents the effort we have collectively put in more than anything else.”

Quins’ next three games: Apr 3 Newcastle Falcons (h), 10 Leeds Carnegie (h), 17 Saracens (a, Wembley Stadium).