Chief executive Mark Evans reckons Quins are not under threat from the growth of professional rugby in west London - questioning the wisdom of having other ‘pro’ clubs in the region.

Championship outfits London Welsh and Esher are leading the charge of local outfits’s bidding to join Harlequins in the promised land of the Premiership next season.

While the likes of Rosslyn Park, London Scottish and Ealing are also flexing their financial muscles lower down the rugby pyramid as they attempt to follow their lead.

Quins saw average gates at the Stoop drop by around 400 last season as director of rugby Conor O’Shea’s men endured a disappointing campaign post ‘Bloodgate’.

But season ticket sales are up to 7,000 this time around - softening the blow of trading the Heineken Cup for the Challenge Cup in terms of European rugby.

And Evans believes the club remains in good shape to withstand the competition for ’bums-on-seats’ from elsewhere.

“With all due respect watching the likes of Esher, London Scottish and Rosslyn Park are a totally different experience,” he said.

“It is no better or worse, it is just different. They have a more amateur ethos and feel about them. They have a long way to go to get to Premiership level.

“You can never rule out a major, major investor coming in and perhaps trying what has been done at Worcester, but it is a very crowded market space in West London.

“You’ve got Chelsea, Fulham, Brentford, QPR all the rugby clubs and all the international stuff at Twickenham and Wembley.

“If you were going to start a fully professional rugby club and one that will attract gates like ours, I would look somewhere else.”

Quins get their Stoop campaign underway with the visit of Northampton Saints on Saturday and Evans reckons this season will see more excitement on the pitch than ever before.

“There were ten tries across two games at the Double Header on Saturday and I think you’ll see that sort of thing becoming the norm,” he added.

“The salary bills of all 12 clubs are probably closer together than ever before. It means the whole competition is tighter across the board.

“I’m confident we will be playing an exciting style of rugby this season and I’m confident we will fill the Stoop a few times this season. We are in good shape.”