Matt Sherratt is relishing his first taste of Welsh derby action when Cardiff Blues take on the Ospreys on Friday night.
The Blues travel to the Liberty Stadium following the first defeat of the Guinness PRO12 season and are determined to bounce back.
Their slender defeat to Leinster has undoubtedly sharpened the focus but Sherratt insists they have prepared in exactly the same way as against any other opposition.
Sherratt said: “I’m massively looking forward to a Welsh derby personally. The boys are in a good place, they are positive and looking forward to the Ospreys.
“We have given every team we play the same respect. From Leinster last weekend to Zebre the week before, the two things you can control are your preparation and your effort.
“Each week we are determined to control those two things as best we can and we have prepared for the Ospreys as we would any other week.”
Sherratt, who is in his first season as backs and attack coach at Cardiff Blues, anticipates a thrilling encounter in Swansea.
He has been pleased with the rugby played so far by Wales’ Capital Region, and the response it has received at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, and reckons the clash of two in form teams is sure to provide fireworks.
But he knows the Ospreys’ defence will be difficult to breakdown having conceded the second least amount of tries in the PRO12.
He said: “There is a real positivity, our last two home crowds have been brilliant. It’s a new experience for me but some of the noise during the Leinster game, and after and the way the crowd stayed around and got behind the players, has been brilliant.
“It’s going to be two teams on show who want to play. There are exciting match ups across the field, there will be that little bit of spice. It’s a derby but a derby with two teams who have played some pretty good stuff.
“But defence has been a strength of theirs for a few years, it’s changed slightly with Brad Davies and will be a challenge to break down.
“Leinster was the toughest defence we have come up against and the Ospreys are very similar.”