Josh Navidi believes European knockout rugby will breathe fresh air into the Cardiff squad as they take on Saracens in the last 16 on Sunday (KO 1.00pm).
Dai Young’s side head to the StoneX Stadium on Easter Sunday looking to bounce back following consecutive derby defeats to Scarlets in recent weeks.
But the two-times Challenge Cup winners return to European action and Navidi hopes a new competition will give his side an opportunity to re-focus and kick-start their campaign.
“Obviously we’re in a different competition now and we’re looking forward to that,” said the Welsh international.
“We spoke about what’s gone right, what we need to put right and what we need to do. It’s been positive.
“We’ve had a good week of training and now we’re just really looking forward to the weekend.
“The different competition brings a bit of a fresh air. It’s knockout rugby so anything goes. It’s not about building points over a long period of the season so we’re really excited.
“We always enjoy going into Europe and I know we’ve had a tough couple of weeks but we can put that right over the weekend.
“We’re all looking forward to it, the boys are bouncing and excited.
“In both games against Scarlets we started really well but last week we barely touched the ball after the opening 20.
“It’s a lack of discipline, turning the ball over easy and giving other teams possession. It’s about looking after the ball.
“There’s simple things that we can put right quite easily, and our attacking shape and defence have looked good at times.
“We just need to focus on the positives and make sure we get ourselves right rather than worry about the negatives.
“It’s obviously knockout rugby so if a team doesn’t perform well and you do then you’re obviously through. It’s exciting and we see it as a challenge. At times during the Bilbao season we were written off but went on to win it.
“These games are always ones I enjoy going into, because you’re up against different teams and styles. I’m really excited for it and it’s a great challenge for us.”
Navidi will be reunited with British and Irish Lions team-mates such as Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje in London.
He’s well aware of the quality that Saracens possesses but is relishing the challenge at hand.
The back row added: “Saracens have got internationals throughout and a very strong squad. We know the challenge that’s to come.
“But it’s about how we can implement our game on them and stopping them from playing their own.
“It’s going to be a difficult challenge, we know the calibre of players they’ve got, but hopefully it’ll be an exciting one and we can come home smiling.
“Owen Farrell is a big leader for them, as is Maro Itoje and I’m excited to be playing against them in another competition. I’m looking forward to rub shoulders with them again and hopefully have a nice beer afterwards.”