Leicester could miss out on next year's Heineken Cup Final day photos

Leicester coach Dean Richards has admitted the double European champions are facing a tough task to qualify for next season's Heineken Cup.

The Tigers lost 31-13 to Gloucester on the last day of the season and finished the season in sixth place in the Zurich Premiership.

The four-time Premiership champions can now only qualify for Europe's premier club competition as winners of the Zurich Premiership Wildcard play-offs.

Leicester must play Harlequins home and away over the next week, with the winners meeting Leeds or Saracens in the final on 31 May.

Richards knows his injury-hit side could miss out on a Heineken campaign for the first time since 1998.

We can't be too confident about playing Harlequins Leicester coach Dean Richards

"The Wildcard play-offs are going to be very important for us," said Richards.

"There is a lot riding on it for us, and with the amount of injuries we've got, then we can't be too confident about playing Harlequins.

"Quins are a good side, and it will be a hard game, but it will be hard to take if we do not get into the Heineken Cup. We will endeavour to make sure we do get in."

Harlequins, meanwhile, secured their place in the Wildcard play-offs with a 25-21 victory over Wasps at Adams Park.

Wasps coach Warren Gatland admitted his side were over-confident and had one eye on Saturday's title play-off with Northampton to decide who meets Gloucester in the season's finale at Twickenham on 31 May.

"We were all guilty thinking we were going to win comfortably - in other words we would walk this," said Gatland.

"We didn't pass very well and we now have seven days to get it right."

Wasps skipper Lawrence Dallaglio added: "I am very disappointed, but we must not take anything away from the opposition. They were committed, and hassled and harried us.

If the guys play as well as they did against Sale, then we've got a real chance Saracens coach Wayne Shelford

"We dropped off our level of performance, and we have to put it out of our minds, but we have finished second in the league and we are still in the hunt for two major trophies."

Saracens coach Wayne Shelford was delighted his side had fought their way into the Wildcard play-offs with a 34-19 victory over Sale.

"The team knew they were under pressure, and they went out and decided to play some football," he said.

"Now, we have the opportunity to go through the back door in the Wildcard play-offs, and if the guys play as well as they did against Sale, then we've got a real chance."

Sharks relinquished their title play-off berth to Northampton and coach Jim Mallinder admitted: "We are very disappointed. If we wanted to finish in the top three, then we had to beat Saracens.

"Last year, we had an easier run-in and showed consistent form, and that breeds confidence. This year, we got to second place, and it seemed to fall away."