Conor O'Shea hailed Saracens as "absolute favourites" to win the Premiership title after their 16-13 victory at the Stoop.
"Mentally they are the toughest Premiership side," says Quins boss
Harlequins boss Conor O'Shea hailed Saracens as "absolute favourites" to win the Aviva Premiership title after their 16-13 victory at the Twickenham Stoop.
Saracens will face Gloucester in a home semi-final next Sunday on the back of 11 consecutive victories - their last Premiership defeat coming at Sale on January 2.
The two sides were locked at 6-6 at the interval before Owen Farrell scored his first Premiership try, landed the conversion and then kicked a penalty to give Saracens a winning lead.
Afterwards, O'Shea tipped Saracens to beat Leicester in the final.
Extra yard
He said: "Mentally they are the toughest side in the Premiership, they know their roles and stick to that pattern and I make them absolute favourites to win the Premiership.
"I know Leicester, Gloucester and Northampton will have something to say about that but there is just something about Saracens that makes you think they will go that extra yard this year.
"They are right up there now and they have earned that right."
Saracens were three minutes away from finishing top of the regular season table until Leicester produced a dramatic late rally to beat London Irish and retain their place at the summit.
Director of rugby Mark McCall said: "It would have been a nice thing to be first past the post but I also think that winning 18 games out of 22 is one heck of an achievement.
"It is all about next week now and Gloucester will be a tough match. Gloucester are one of the most dangerous attacking teams in the Premiership. We have got to be way better next week."
Positive
Chris Robshaw crossed for a consolation try but it was too little too late for Harlequins, who finish seventh in the Premiership and miss out on automatic Heineken Cup qualification.
But O'Shea's men can still book their place in Europe's premier competition if they beat Stade Francais to win the Amlin Challenge Cup or if Northampton win the Heineken Cup.
"We are disappointed sitting here today, we lost a game of rugby we went to win but we are so positive with what we have done this season. We are looking to win a European trophy," said O'Shea.
"Everybody knows it will be a tight game with us in it, that is proven. From 35 games we have either won or been within a score in 32 of them.
"We will have our full strength side out on the pitch and I am really excited."
There will be concerns over Ugo Monye, who left the field early with a thumb injury. Monye's right hand was heavily strapped as he left the stadium.