In the frenzied minutes before the Guinness Premiership final, James Haskell, the Wasps flanker, will take a moment to reflect on the last stand of a titanic and indomitable force.

For the final time, Haskell will follow Lawrence Dallaglio, his friend and captain, over the white line, his mind racing with the memories they have carved into the history of the London club, spilling blood in the same mud over five trophy-filled seasons.

Haskell, 23, has been shaped by the World Cup winner, moulded into a match-winner so full of pace, self-belief and footballing excellence that he is already threatening to replace the irreplaceable colossus, both for club and country.

For Dallaglio, it is a truly fitting ending to a magnificent career: Leicester Tigers against Wasps, the two clubs who have dominated domestic rugby over the past ten years, going toe to toe in front of 80,000 people – what a climax.

Haskell admits the minutes leading up to tomorrow's kick-off will be charged with emotion.

“I’m sure that when I’m in the changing room before the match and I look across to Lawrence, it will dawn on me that I will never play alongside him again. That will be a pretty emotional moment. I owe him a lot,” Haskell said.

Wasps have been keen to remove sentiment from the build-up to the match, insisting it is business as usual. But Dallaglio and emotion have always gone hand in hand, and when he leads the team out it will be hard for him to keep up the pretence that this is merely the final game of another season with a trophy to win, the same as in so many recent seasons.

But peel back the layers and it is clear that emotion is fuelling this squad, the players desperate to give Dallaglio the send-off they feel he deserves after 18 years with the “family”.

“He has been a massive inspiration to me, the perfect role model,” Haskell said. “He has been through everything on and off the field, so if I ever needed advice he was always able to point me in the right direction telling me ‘this is the best way to deal with this situation’, or ‘that is the best way to prepare for a game’.

“It’s not been a constant thing, it’s not like he’s been my carer, but I owe him a great deal. So it’s important we give Lawrence the send-off he deserves. He’s a guy who has been a hugely successful one club man - so it’s important we get it right.”

Coming into the final, Wasps have, rather surprisingly, been cast as the underdogs. Serious injuries to Danny Cipriani, England’s rising star, and Tom Voyce appear to have given Leicester the edge and left Wasps facing real adversity. To lose a fly half so near to a final is a vicious blow, potentially terminal, especially as the Tigers are running into the best form of their season. Haskell sees it all as another challenge and, more importantly, one Wasps can overcome.

“Our thoughts are very much to go out and win it for Danny and Tom,” Haskell added. “Wasps is such a family club that we are always playing for each other and that will motivate us again on Saturday. We want to finish our season on a high, win a trophy and right a few wrongs.”

Leicester have motivation of their own. They will remember the thick stench of defeat that hung around their dressing room following last season's Heineken Cup final against tomorrow's opponents. Haskell and Wasps are right to expect a backlash.

“No one likes to lose finals,” Haskell added. “I’m sure Leicester will have been especially irritated about losing last year, but that was then and this is now.

“It’s a great rivalry, but I don’t think that match will have a bearing on this one. It may play a part in terms of their mental preparations and how eager they are to beat us.

“But you know when you play Leicester in any game you are coming up against a massively physical side who are aggressive and are not going to accept second best. But that inspires you to want to train harder and look at your own individual game and make sure you are preparing as best as you can. It’s important you cover every base and put yourself in the best position to put a good performance in."

If Dallaglio has ruled supreme at Wasps for almost two decades, then Haskell is the heir apparent. Dallaglio may no longer be able to complete the full 80 minutes, but Haskell, at the peak of his powers, is likely to give as much in the first minute as he will in the last.

Whatever both sides say, it will be an afternoon of raw emotion and is sure to be more than just another game.