Josh Turnbull says it will be a proud moment for him and his family, as he's set to make his 100th Cardiff Blues appearance in Saturday's derby against Dragons at Rodney Parade.
The utility forward will make it a rare achievement of reaching the milestone for two Welsh regions - having also racked up a century of games for Scarlets, before making the move to Wales’ Capital Region in 2014.
The Welsh international also revealed how intensity within the camp hits another level during derby week, and believes these fixtures are a huge opportunity to put a marker down, both as individuals and as a team.
“It’s a proud moment. My family will be coming up to watch and it’s a proud moment to have played more than 100 times for two different regions,” said Turnbull.
“That’s pretty special, and I’m not sure how many players have managed to do that in regional rugby.
“At the beginning of the week you have to say a word in front of them if you reach a milestone - whether that’s your first cap or your 100th.
“It’s a great bunch of boys to be involved with and to go out on the pitch and share that 100th game with them will be a nice moment.
“I told the boys that ‘I’m honoured to have achieved 100 games for this region. It’s a proud moment for me and my family and now I’m looking forward to getting out there with a great bunch of boys and getting that win.’
“To be involved in any derby is a bonus because the intensity levels during the build up goes through the roof.
“Everyone wants to be involved and the squad is champing at the bit to get out there. It’s a chance to set your marker down against your local rivals.
“You’re always looking for those derbies, as soon as the fixtures come out. You see who you’ve got up first in these clashes, and they always pop up around this time of year, leading up to the two European games.
“Welsh derbies are all about who is going to front-up on the day. I’ve played in enough of them to know what you have to bring on game day.”
Both sides head into the Newport-clash with two Guinness PRO14 victories under their belts.
Turnbull is aware of the threats posed by Bernard Jackman’s side, but insists it’s important for the visitors to concentrate on putting their own stamp on the game.
The 30-year-old said: “Dragons have made quite a few signings this year but they look like they have a pretty settled squad in terms of who they’re picking.
“There’s a few old faces in there, with the likes of Richard Hibbard, Ryan Bevington and Aaron Jarvis coming back.
“There’s also a couple of players I know quite well, like Rhodri Williams and Jordan Williams, who have been playing pretty well for the Dragons.
“They haven’t had the results they wanted, but they’ve been putting in some decent performances.
“We know what the Dragons will want to do. They’re going to try to slow the ball and be disruptive in the contact area. It will be about how we deal with that so we can play our own game.”