Shane Lewis-Hughes says he is driven by the 'fierce' competitive back row ranks at Cardiff Blues.
The academy graduate, who penned a new deal with his home region earlier this season, competes with the likes of Ellis Jenkins, Josh Navidi, Olly Robinson, Will Boyde, Josh Turnbull and Nick Williams for a place in the back row at the Arms Park.
Lewis-Hughes, who was named in the Wales squad ahead of the clash against Barbarians in November, is says the squad are determined to improve both as individuals and as a group, and hopes the mentality will push the side into contention for a top three finish.
“I try to take it one game at a time and be the best that I can be every week," said the former Wales under-20 international.
“The back row here has a very fierce competition and if you’re not at your best, then you’re not guaranteed to play the following week. So that’s why it’s important to take it game-by-game.
“We have the same messages here as individuals and as a group. It’s about focusing on each game with a lot of intensity, stick to the gameplan and executing that during the week so we can perform well on the weekend.
“Hopefully by doing that the results will look after themselves and we’ll put ourselves in a good position to fight for the play-offs.”
John Mulvihill's side take on Conference B leaders, Edinburgh, at BT Murrayfield this evening.
Lewis-Hughes, who has been named in the back row alongside Robinson and Turnbull, says these are the challenges that he relishes as a player, and insists his side will have to be at their best if they are to seal a fifth consecutive win at the Scottish capital.
“Obviously they’re top of the table at the moment and they’ve got a good, strong pack.
“They like to play a very forward-orientated game which works for them.
“They’ve got the likes of Bill Mata and Duhan van der Merwe on the wing who are strong and key individuals and we know that we’ll have to be at our best if we want to come away with the result.
“The reason you play rugby is to play against the best and test yourself against them.
“It gives you a pretty good indicator of where you are as an individual. It’s a learning curve and it makes you better, so I relish those challenges.
“With someone like Mata, it’s about doing the best of your ability to take away his strengths.
“You need to shut him down early and you have to be on the ball against someone like that by turning up both mentally and physically.”