Harlequins number eight Tom Guest reckons he has hit the form to come out of Nick Easter's shadow on a permanent basis and not just during international programmes.

The 26-year-old has largely played second fiddle to the England man as he has graduated with honours from the Stoop academy, but is progressing his own reputation this term.

Guest has made more than 131 appearances - since making his debut in 2005 - and recently confirmed his intention to see out the final year of his existing contract next season.

That decision has come on the back of scoring five tries this term in 11 starts this season, while picking up the player of the month awards for November in Easter's absence.

And new dad Guest, who believes he has recaptured his best form, is out to make the shirt his own as he plans to extend his Quins career beyond 2012.

“A lot of people see me as only playing when Nick is away, but I feel like I've had more game time this season than I ever have,” he said.

“I've been very pleased with how this season has gone for me and I think my form is somewhere near it was a year ago. It has not been easy with the amount of sleep I've been getting recently.

“Obviously, I'd prefer to be playing week in, week out and I'm working hard to make that happen, but I'm happy at Quins and want to stay for a long time.

“I've been here from the start of my career and grown up with this squad. There is a real sense we are going places.”

But for now, extending a run of back-to-back Premiership wins and locking horns with the likes of Andy Powell and Serge Betsen this weekend, is all that is on Guest's mind.

“The LV= Cup and Amlin Cup have given us the momentum to get our Premiership season back on track,” he added.

“We drew with Wasps earlier in the season and we are confident we can turn that into a win over our local rivals.

“Wasps have always got good players, but we have got a pack that has grown in confidence and can stand up to any team in this league."