WASPS readily admit the LV=Cup is third in their list of priorities, but with seven points from two games they are starting to take more of an interest.

If they beat Cardiff Blues in January they will be in with a real shout of the semi-finals going into their last pool game against Northampton Saints, and Dai Young admits every team in the last four will want to go all the way.

He said: “We’ve put ourselves in a decent position so the next game is massive for us. If we can get a good home win against the Blues it sets it up for the last game.

“When you’re this close you’re always going to give it a bash and any team that gets through the groups into the semi-final will have a real focus on it.

“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves because there is a long way to go. But if we’re in with a shout we’d give it our best shot – without flipping our focus from the Aviva Premiership and Champions Cup to the LV=Cup.”

Young says injuries will play a significant part in how they approach the final two games, but their performances in the first two have raised expectations.

He said: “We went to Northampton last season with fringe players and they put 70 points on us.

“We have got some strength in depth in some positions now and the games this season show the squad has improved and that we’re in a much better position to give it a real crack.”

If they do reach the last four though, Young insists he won’t replace the team that got Wasps that far.

He said: “There are some real tough games around in that period so you can’t change the team completely.

“We’d certainly have a bigger emphasis on it with the intensity and physicality of the Aviva Premiership and the Champions Cup, there is no way those players can play the LV=Cup as well.”