Nick Williams insists sealing victory over defending champions Scarlets at a packed out Cardiff Arms Park would be the perfect way to cap off the year.
Cardiff Blues are set to take on Wayne Pivac’s side on New Year’s Eve, with both sides targeting back-to-back wins in the festive derbies.
Danny Wilson’s side came away with a 17-22 win against Dragons at Rodney Parade, while a last-gasp try from Josh McLeod stunned the Ospreys at Parc y Scarlets, with the hosts securing a 12-9 victory.
The number eight, who was in fine form at Rodney Parade, admits he thrives to play in these big clashes, and is excited at the prospect of getting one over the defending champions.
“It would be a great way to finish the year if we win, and that’s the plan,” said Williams.
“Hopefully being back at home, with the crowd that comes in to the Arms Park, will give us a nudge.
“It’s why we play the game. To play in front of a sell-out crowd, and we want to give them something to cheer for.
“These games are very similar to the Irish derbies. It’s a chance to have a bit of niggle, which is healthy, the bodies are up to gun against each other.
“It’s an honour and a blessing, as a foreigner, to be a part of them. They’ll be memories I’ll cherish when I look back at my career, once I’m finished.
“We need to concentrate on ourselves this week, because we know what they’re going to bring.
“They’re going to be a tough outfit and they’ve got world class players across the board.
“The Scarlets are class all around and their back three are lethal, but you can’t pick just one strong point.
“We’ve had a couple of days rest and got to spend the festive period with our families before getting back on the horse today.”
Reflecting on the Boxing Day win over Dragons, Williams insists his side must take the positives out of the first hour, and was proud to seal the win at a tough venue.
Williams said: “Obviously we were happy with the first 60 minutes, but in the last 15-20 minutes they probably pushed a bit too close for our liking.
“It’s always a tough place to come and get a win, especially on derby day, but there’s always an extra incentive to get one over your counterparts.
“We knew we had to weather the storm. We knew they were going to come out physically and we had to be on our A game to counter that, and we did that well.
“We’ll take the win, had some time to indulge in some leftovers over the past couple of days, and look on to this weekend.”