Aged 14 I returned to school having been off ill and discovered in my absence I had been nominated by my classmates to run the 400m on sports day, writes Ben Wallace.

Come the day, having been keenly advised the 400m is a sprint race, I shot off to find myself a clear 50m ahead at the 300m mark.

My glory was short-lived – I went out hard, hit the wall and limped home in fourth.

Harlequins – like my 14-year-old self – found themselves clear of the pack with two thirds of the season gone, but are tantalisingly close to hitting the wall and relegating this season to an adolescent nightmare.

Things have not been going well lately. A draw away at relegation favourites Newcastle three weeks ago should have been seen as a bonus point opportunity to secure a home play-off.

While a win against Bath last weekend was the right result, it lacked conviction and will not concern those hot on Quins’ heels in the Aviva.

With four rounds remaining, a home win against struggling Wasps and an away win at Sale will all but guarantee a play-off place, and quite likely a home draw.

But if Quins are serious about going the distance it is making an impression in one of their other two fixtures that counts.

Having lost to Saracens at Twickenham at Christmas and beaten a below strength Leicester, Quins’ form has yet to extend to a comprehensive victory over the two teams most likely to be in this year’s final.

Questions remain. Are Quins going to hit the wall or has this team got the legs to win the race?