Harlequins have confirmed that head coach John Kingston has signed a new contract ahead of Sunday's crucial Heineken Cup clash with Sale at The Stoop.
Kingston has agreed to remain with the London club until at least June 2012.
The news will come as a welcome boost for last season's quarter-finalists as they prepare for a vital match up with their Guinness Premiership rivals.
Kinsgton has been the figurehead at Quins this season following the resignation of former director of rugby Dean Richards.
And the former Richmond coach, who first joined Quins from Galwegians eight years ago, admits he is delighted to commit his future to the 2001 and 2004 Challenge Cup winners.
"18 months into my role as head coach, I am delighted to have committed myself for a further two-and-a-half years," said Kingston.
"Over this time, I feel we have developed a style that the players enjoy and which allows them to express themselves in a positive and successful manner.
"The squad has made giant strides and, with our summer issues well and truly behind us, I have no doubt that the next few years are going to be very exciting ones for Harlequins".
The move to extend Kingston's contract comes after chief executive Mark Evans explained that Quins would be looking to name a new director of rugby before the end of the year.
And the decision to keep Kingston in place dispels any rumours that the ex-Cambridge University captain and Quins prop would be leaving The Stoop once Richards' successor is brought on board.
Quins go into Sunday's clash with Sale knowing that another European loss would make it almost impossible to qualify for the knockout stages.
Defeat to Cardiff Blues in the opening round of Heineken Cup action and a similar result at home to Toulouse in Round 2 means Quins have it all to do if they are to repeat last season's surge into the last eight.
