Quins' back-up playmakers Ben Botica and Tim Swiel have been put on high alert by director of rugby Conor O'Shea with fly half Nick Evans set to miss at least six weeks - and possibly the rest of season - through injury.

The 35-year-old suffered the injury during Saturday's 28-6 defeat at Gloucester and may miss three months if damage to a bone in his right leg can only be repaired by an operation.

Evans sees a specialist this week to determine the extent of the damage and would likely miss the rest of the regular Premiership season should he require surgery.

Surrey Comet:

Key man: Quins' Ben Botica, centre, looks on as Nick Easter makes a break against Leicester Tigers last season

Botica is the Kiwi's regular stand in - scoring 412 points in 82 appearances - but the mistake that cost his side victory against Northampton Saints earlier this month remains fresh in the memory.

Swiel, born in Somerset and raised in South Africa, stood in for Evans last season during a loan spell and impressed, but he has only featured in seven games this term - largely at full back.

"He (Evans) is seeing a specialist and he'll be out for a minimum of six to seven weeks," said O'Shea.

Surrey Comet:

Moving up the pecking order: Quins' Taunton-born Tim Swiel

"He's pulled a bit of bone off the leg, it's just whether, with the damage he's done, it will need to be looked at for an operation.

"If anything happens it would be around 12 weeks.

"You see it happen a lot unfortunately. We just wish him luck."

Harlequins sit fifth in the Premiership table and face a European Challenge Cup quarter-final against London Irish on April 9.

Surgery would mean the pinpoint goal-kicker might only be fit for a potential Challenge Cup final, on May 13, and the Premiership play-offs, with the semi-finals set for the weekend of May 20 to 22.

"If it does end up 12 weeks that would bring him up to the final of the Challenge Cup," said O'Shea.

Surrey Comet:

Faith: Director of rugby Conor O'Shea has confidence in his squad

"Ben (Botica) will get a chance to run the show, and we have Tim Swiel too who played a lot of rugby for us last year."

Quins had been tipped as one of the clubs chasing the services of England fly-half Danny Cipriani for next season.

Wasps have confirmed their capture of the 28-year-old, who will leave Sale this summer and return to his former club.

O'Shea admitted he had expected Cipriani to return to Wasps.

"We get a lot of people across our desk, and you talk to a lot of people, but it wasn't a surprise that he went to Wasps," said O'Shea.