Harlequins snatched a dramatic engage Super League victory thanks to a last-minute 40-metre drop goal from Henry Paul.

Both sides looked set to settle for a point with the scores level 28-28 until Paul, recently returned to rugby league from rugby union with Gloucester, struck his match-winning kick to move Harlequins seven points clear in the table of bottom club Wigan.

Salford were without Karl Fitzpatrick, John Wilshere and Kevin McGuiness but Harlequins welcomed back Mark McLinden and Paul, with Paul Sykes and Thomas Leuluai their notable absentees.

Quins could not have made a better start with Danny Williams collecting Paul's kick to put his side ahead after only four minutes, with Rob Purdham landing the conversion.

But Salford, who visit Huddersfield in next Sunday's Challenge Cup quarter-final, hit back with two Stuart Littler tries in six minutes.

Littler collected Andrew Dunemann's kick for his first touchdown after 14 minutes and then stormed onto the stand off's pass to brush off McLinden and make it 10-6.

Harlequins responded by notching two more tries before the break to lead 18-12, with Solomon Haumono taking Paul's pass to charge over and then Lee Hopkins piling on the agony after a mistake by Gareth Haggerty.

Salford levelled in the 51st minute with Ian Sibbit supporting Malcolm Alker's scorching break and Myler booting the goal before Littler completed his hat-trick to make it 22-18.

But there was no denying Quins who were back on level terms with McLinden squeezing over in the corner with 14 minutes left.

Haggerty made it 28-22 for Salford before Pat Weisner's try levelled again - until Paul popped up with the winner