Cardiff Blues are desperate to taste victory over regional rivals, Ospreys, at Judgement Day says star-man Owen Lane.
The in-form wing has crossed for nine tries in as many appearances across all competitions since January, and Saturday’s encounter is set to be his first taste of the Principality Stadium spectacle.
The final day showdown will determine which side book their spot in the end-of-season play-off for Heineken Champions Cup qualification, where the fourth-placed team from each Guinness PRO14 Conference will go head-to-head.
Lane has made no secret about the importance of Judgement Day, and he insists the squad are desperate to gain revenge following the defeat to Ospreys earlier this season - their only loss in a derby in 2018/19.
The former Wales under-20 international said: “There’s an importance to this game because it’s such a big game in the context of our season.
“It’s pretty much a final, because if we lose our season is over. That’s how we’re treating it and there’s a big emphasis on how important a win would be.
“We can definitely take confidence from our performances in some of the derbies this year, but if you look back to the Ospreys game in January, that’s the one we needed to perform better in.
“We owe them one after that defeat and hopefully we can put some wrongs right this weekend.
“Historically we’ve tend to be on the losing side on derby days against Ospreys but in 2017 we turned the table.
“They beat us at Judgement Day last season but hopefully it will be another exciting game and hopefully both teams will go out there to play a nice brand of rugby.
“It should be a good spectacle for the spectators who come out to watch, and hopefully we can be on the winning end.
“We want to be in the top tier of Europe, and we know that if we don’t win on the weekend, then we will wave goodbye to that. It’s a final for both teams, and both teams want to be involved in top flight rugby next season.”
Lane, who has memories of Judgement Day as a Cardiff Blues supporter, is looking forward to a special occasion and hopes the conditions will allow the back three to continue to flourish.
"I’m really excited for my first experience of Judgement Day. It’s an iconic stadiums and I’ve watched these games and grew up coming to Judgement Day with my family.
"If I can be part of this occasion, and be part of a winning effort, then it would be pretty special.
"We hope the weather will hold out, but the roof will be shut and we can get some ball in-play, and as a backline get into the game as much as we can."