Number Eight Robin Copeland admits the Blues are relishing an 'extra special' derby with Ospreys - and insists there are no more excuses and the team must perform in the final six games of the season.
Blues travel to the Liberty Stadium tonight (Friday) to face Ospreys in a huge RaboDirect PRO12 clash (kick-off 7.05pm).
After over two weeks without a fixture, Copeland acknowledges that Blues are eager to get back out on the field and make amends for the last game with Zebre in Italy at the start of March.
And he vowed all the Blues are up for the challenges ahead in the closing weeks of the season as they must let their performances do the talking.
“Everyone is looking forward to the game - Welsh derbies are always extra special,” he said.
“The Liberty is a lovely place to go and play, everyone is looking forward to it. We are focused on what we have to do, there are no more excuses. There is no one else to take any blame, we have to perform. We are up for the challenge now.
“It’s sad that Sam (Warburton) and Leigh (Halfpenny) are out, but we have a core group of players here that have been playing and training with each other for the last eight or nine months. We know what is expected of us so we are not going to worry about people that aren’t here; the focus needs to be on those that are here.
“Friday night is going to be tough and we know that, they are a tough side that play with a lot flair,” he added.
“They have a lot of the big players back but it’s one of those games you want to play in. You want to face the best players in the country.
“We want to win all our games now; we want to show everyone what we can do. There are players fighting for contracts and players that want to play in the top tier of Europe next year. That is a big drive. There is no lack of want, no more excuses, we have to perform.”