Harlequins head coach John Kingston has told prop Mark Lambert he has a great chance to become a first choice front row, but must take it with both hands.

The 24-year-old has been plagued by injury since graduating from the club’s famed academy and has had tremendous faith put in him over the years, despite making only a handful of appearances for the first team.

The departure of Mike Ross over the summer has left a slot at tighthead up for grabs and Lambert took first dibs on it in the weekend’s 26-15 defeat to London Wasps.

The Quins pack, reduced to seven following George Robson’s senseless red card, out scrummaged their rivals at times as skipper Will Skinner’s side defied the odds to push their rivals all the way.

Former Exeter Chief and Ireland A international John Andress was an interested observer before coming off the bench to replace his rival in the last quarter of the match and Kingston reckons Lambert needs to match his challenge head on to become a regular starter.

“Mark has played a few games for us, but he knows he is under pressure from the likes of John,” he said.

“He has done very well and we rate him very, very highly. There is an opportunity, with Mike Ross leaving, for both of them to press their claims and it is up to Mark to take it.

“Our scrummaging at the weekend was quite outstanding and several people stepped up, but it must not stop there.”

Quins face Leicester Tigers at the weekend and KIngston believes the fact both sides opened their campaigns with defeat should make Saturday’s clash at the Stoop a belter.

“I’m not too bothered whether Leicester were disappointed or will hit us with a backlash, we were disappointed to lose ourselves and will be out to put that right,” he said.

“We were the best two sides in the Premiership last year and both of us have started with defeat, so both will have plenty to prove.

“Leicester don’t lose two games back-to-back very often and we don’t tend to lose too often at home.

“We’ve got a great desire to win every game, so from that point of view both sides are going to be very evenly matched. It should be some spectacle.”

Quins’ next three games: Sept 12 Leicester Tigers (h), 19 Saracens (h), 25 Newcastle Falcons (a).