Fourie's new deal underlines ambitions at Leeds Carnegie

It should hearten every Leeds supporter that the individual in question is the influential back-row Hendre Fourie.

All season on the pitch, his actions have spoken louder than any words so the outstanding flanker's confidence-boosting decision to sign a new two-year deal at Headingley says plenty about the club's future.

Leeds's most impressive performer this season, Fourie would have courted plenty of offers from more illustrious rivals but had no hesitation in staying, believing he will be playing top-flight rugby with the Yorkshire club next season.

Following Sunday's remarkable victory over Wasps, Leeds remain bottom with seven games to go but are now only adrift of Sale Sharks by points difference.

The competition is so close that eighth-placed Harlequins are just five points off the foot of the table and they, along with Sale – who have triumphed just once in the league since winning at Headingley in November – Worcester and Newcastle are all in danger.

Improving Leeds, meanwhile, have won back-to-back Premiership fixtures for the first time in five years bolstering their chances of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship and Fourie said: "I'm really confident we'll stay up.

"Confidence is high. As a team we've started to mould.

"We knew exactly what to do at crunch time (on Sunday); we're starting to adapt and implement the game plan much better.

"Our concentration is far improved and it's for the whole 80 minutes. We're not letting leads go like we might do a few weeks ago."

In theory, Leeds have the toughest run-in, facing just one of their relegation rivals.

Sale, Harlequins and Worcester all have three such fixtures, increasing their chance of

'eight-point swings' which could catapult them to safety while Newcastle face two in trips to Sale and Harlequins.

Neil Back's side have home games against Northampton and Saracens who are both chasing Leicester for top spot but, inevitably, their last Headingley fixture against Worcester on the penultimate weekend is likely to prove crucial.

However, South African Fourie, who suffered relegation with the club in 2008, believes their destiny can be in their own hands before that date.

"We need to get as many points as soon as possible," said the 30-year-old.

"I don't want to be in a situation where we're heading into the final few games needing two or three wins to stay up.

"We want to be going into those games knowing we're safe and I think we can."

If it did go down to the last day – at Bath – it would bring back memories of five years ago when seemingly-doomed Leeds headed to The Rec bottom but pulled off a stoppage-time win over the West Country side and somehow finished the afternoon in eighth place.

However, the club's current habit of picking up crucial bonus points – despite just four wins throughout the campaign they have now secured points in 10 of their last 11 Premiership encounters – could well see Fourie's prediction unfold.

"There are a few teams in much poorer form and we're definitely in a better position than last time," he said.

"Back then there was only Worcester down there with us. Now there's a lot more clubs and a lot closer to us."

Leeds entertain third-placed Saracens on Sunday still believing they should have defeated them at Vicarage Road in October.

If the chance came up again, it is hard to see the more savvy Leeds spurning another opportunity while Sarries have lost four of their last five league outings.

"As a team now we don't fear anyone," said Fourie.

"Last time we pushed Saracens real close and if a decision had gone our way we could have beaten them.

"It's going to be a different story at Headingley. They gave us a good hiding there in the Anglo-Welsh Cup a few weeks ago but we've got a full-strength side now so they'll be in for a real fight.

"Our belief has stayed the same. It takes a bit of time to get used to the Premiership and we were close in a lot of games but now we've turned that corner."

Fourie, who made his England Saxons debut last month, scored his first try of the season to seal victory over Wasps.

He is certain more triumphs will follow, this year and next.

"I love it here," said the former Rotherham forward.

"We're getting better each week and having roughly the same team now for the last four or five games has helped; we're all starting to think like each other.

"I didn't want to go anywhere else; I want to help make Leeds one of the biggest clubs in England."