Harlequins RL boss Brian McDermott has warned there is no quick fix to the defensive frailties that blighted Sunday's 46-16 defeat at Huddersfield.

Giants stand-off Chris Thorman passed 1,000 career points with a try and seven goals as Quins capitulated in the second half to end a four-match unbeaten run.

Tries from Chad Randall and Tyrone Smith had given Quins an early 10-6 lead but, by the time John Grayshon scored against his former employers, they had conceded 40 unanswered points and the game.

And McDermott, who defended his decison to rest utility hooker Julien Rinaldi and prop Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook for the match, has vowed to put things right to maintain a play-off push.

"We would have to rest them at some stage this season and there will be more rested this week, because fatigue is one of the main problems we face," he said.

"We don't want to go through a season and reach a situation in the play-offs where we have 17 tired players and the rest feeling fresh. The reason we lost was our poor defence.

"It doesn't take a boffin to work out that if you let the oppostition play the ball too quickly then your next tackle isn't going to be as effective. I'll be addressing that over the next few weeks.

"It won't happen overnight because we have so many other things to work on, but it is a priority."

Quins were without influential cross-code international Henry Paul, who this week underwent an exploratory operation to find a cure for a problem with his left ankle.

Paul, previously ever-present this season, was missed in the defeat and will miss Sunday's visit of champions St Helens, but McDermott is hopeful it won't be a prolonged absence.

"The specialist has told us there is nothing structurally wrong with the joint in terms of bones and ligaments, but there is a lot of swelling there," he added.

"It seems like there is an infection but hopefully we will get result from his biopsy in the next 48 hours or so."