Luke Williamson admits Sunday’s Stoop showdown with Salford will have a major bearing on what Harlequins RL can hope to achieve over the remainder of the Super League season.

After last Friday night’s 62-4 hammering at Leeds Rhinos the Londoners head into the clash with just one win to their name this campaign, and could be propping up the table if they lose to the Manchester side.

And loose forward Williamson accepts it is time to step things up.

He said: “Salford is a massive game for us - no two ways about it.

“We are at the stage where our season could really go either way - make or break.

“Defeats like the one at Leeds can do that, and I think it will make us.

“I am sure we will have a few players back for the Salford game and we can start to look forward.”

After holding the Rhinos in check for half an hour at Headingley, and scoring a try of their own through Jamie O’Callaghan, Quins were demolished in the second half as Leeds racked up 48 points without reply.

But the Australian forward insisted he would still take something out of the encounter.

Williamson added: “It was not a good performance and it hurts but you have to take the positives.

“If you don’t then there is no point in playing the game to begin with.

“For us the positives were the first half an hour and the fact that more youngsters got some game time.”

With Danny Orr scratched due to a bad back, Quins fielded Max Edwards and Chris Melling as makeshift half-backs.

And Williamson admitted the threadbare squad was being stretched to the limit.

He added: “We have a lot of young players and it is a big step up to go from youth football to Super League.

“It is a massive experience for them to go to a place like Leeds and a massive learning curve.

“But they will grow from that and although it does not look good now, it will help in the long run.”

Harlequins RL’s next three matches: Mar 14 Salford (h), 20 Huddersfield (h), 26 Bradford (a)