Nick Williams is gearing himself up for typically physical encounters during Cardiff Blues' trio of festive derbies over the next fortnight.
Danny Wilson’s side travel along the M4 on Boxing Day to take on Dragons, before hosting Scarlets at Cardiff Arms Park on New Year’s Eve and taking on Ospreys at Liberty Stadium on January 6.
Number eight Williams admits he enjoys the physical aspects of the game but insists the Blues must manage their bodies both on and off the field in order to cope with the demanding 11-day turnaround.
“Derbies always tend to be physical up front, niggly affairs, and I’ve played in a few when I was across the water against teams like Munster and Leinster when I was at Ulster,” said Williams.
“We’re expecting pretty much the same, although I’m not sure what the weather is going to do for us. Regardless if it’s going to be dry or wet it’s still going to be a push up front. I pride myself in the abrasiveness of the game.
“The other three teams in Wales will be gunning for us as much as we’re gunning for them over this festive period.
“It’s a matter of balancing our play on the field and what we do off the field because it’s such a tight 11-day turnaround between the three games.
“We need to manage our bodies well and how much time we spend on the training paddock, and the little one-percents will be huge going into these games.”
Last week, Wales’ Capital Region bounced back from a 24-0 defeat at Sale’s AJ Bell Stadium to seal a 14-6 win over the Aviva Premiership outfit in the second half of a crucial Challenge Cup double-header.
Williams was delighted to see his side stand up and take responsibility last week and believes the win will build momentum going into the festive derbies.
The number eight said: “We all knew that we needed a reaction, it was a poor performance across the board up in Sale and we needed to take responsibility.
“We were happy to come away with a professional win, regarding the weather, which wasn’t the best. It was similar to what it was at Sale, but with rain instead of snow.
“The boys pulled through and are really stoked going into the next fortnight.
“It’s amazing what six or seven days can do to a team to turn things around. Momentum is a big thing especially going into a big derby on Boxing Day.
“We’ve got a good value culture going on here and everything behind the scenes are awesome. All the boys will back each other 100 per cent, and bar the Sale away game, all the boys have been bouncing.
“It just goes to show that what we do here behind the scenes is working, it filters through and from my end everything is A-OK.”