Quins, desperate to avoid a repeat of a season which attracted criticism on and off the pitch from all quarters, say the agreement with Irish included a get-out clause after one season.

Irish dispute this, believing the deal was for two years and are keen to extend that for at least another year after decreeing their move to Twickenham an emphatic success.

Today, lawyers for both sides are thrashing out the arguments and have told both clubs not to comment. Although jealousy on the part of Quins, with Irish winning praise for the atmosphere they generate, has been blamed for the situation, a look at attendance for both clubs shows a degree of equity.

Irish's fans have been buoyed with their team playing, and losing, in the semi-finals of the Tetley Bitter Cup and European Shield but they, like Quins, have not qualified for Europe next year thanks to some less than impressive league form.

With Quins restructuring for next season both on and off the pitch, as one senior official at the club put it some months ago: "you would not see Curry's being advertised in Dixons."

Quins believe their natural supporter is not the same as Irish's so, despite The Stoop being able to offer top class rugby every league weekend, there has been little joint marketing to attract the neutral rugby enthusiast.

If Irish are forced out, a move to the Madejski Stadium in Reading, where they lost to Northampton in the semi-final of the Tetley Bitter Cup, has been touted as possible.

However, rugby fingers have already been burned at a venue where the final rites were read to Richmond at the end of the 1998/99 season. And even Irish's record crowd this season of 7,174 against Bath would look lost in the 20,000 capacity stadium.

Where they play their home rugby became all the more important for Irish and Quins after the 12 Allied Dunbar Premiership clubs voted for Rob Andrew's league proposal system.

Although the spectre of Irish possibly having to merge with Quins was lifted after the insistence that there are only three teams in London was dropped there are challenging stipulations for ground capacities which The Stoop does not meet. Quins will have to carry out some major work at The Stoop to increase its capacity to the 10,000 Andrew's plan demands.

Wasps warn Quins of a sting in the tale after Irish win

Though London Irish beat Wasps at the Stoop on Wednesday night, there was a distinct end of term feel about a game in which the visitors fielded a second string side.

After the game, Irish's Director of Rugby, Dick Best, praised his players for their commitment, particularly as many will not be at the club next week.

Centre Robert Todd's departure to Gloucester, confirmed this week, was expected to be the first of many.

For Wasps this was a game they did not need to win with European qualification secured in the first of two trips to Twickenham in five days on Saturday having beaten Northampton in the Tetley Bitter Cup final.

With celebrations continuing and a game against NEC Harlequins to prepare for on Sunday the visitors rested many of their big names including Lawrence Dallaglio, Trevor Leota, Josh Lewsey, Alex King or Simon Shaw.

But Quins cannot expect such an easy ride at Loftus Road on Sunday.

Scottish wing Kenny Logan warned that those players rested would be back, and back to prove a point.

He said: "They will be fresh at the weekend and we want to go out with a bang, we like playing Quins.

"I was disappointed at how we played tonight that was our second string team so not the first team has got to go out a prove themselves."

Quins are experiencing a terrible run of form which is threatening to leave them second from bottom having conceded more than a half century of points in their last three league games.

The only bright spot was the win against Northampton last month, but that proved to be the falsest of dawns and old enemies are currently enjoying putting the boot in.

"I have watched Quins a few times, they are playing for pride, some are playing for contracts at other clubs," said Logan.

Meanwhile there will be a party atmosphere at the Stoop on Saturday for Irish's last game of the season against Gloucester.

Entertainment will be provided by the London Irish Celi Band and there will be special appearances by The Popes and "Pavarotti" who will sing Nessun Dorma.

The club are aiming to beat the record 17,800 pints of Guinness downed during the last home game against Gloucester in the cup earlier in the season.