Nick Williams has warned Cardiff Blues to be wary of a Munster backlash after they lost their nine-game winning run in the Guinness PRO12.
Since falling to the Blues at Irish Independent Park in September, the province have lost just two Championship matches.
A 30-21 defeat to the Scarlets at Thomond Park brought a nine-game streak to a halt and Williams, who spent two seasons with Munster, knows they will be champing at the bit for redemption.
Williams said: “Any team that goes up has to come down and they will be on a low and gunning for us on Saturday afternoon. We have to be ready for that and be prepared for the big onslaught Munster can put up.
“This season Munster have gone back to what they know best which is their power game, it’s not the prettiest way to play but it’s very effective and they all buy into it.
“They definitely play with a lot of heart and there’s been big things that have happened behind the scenes, with the passing of Axel, that will pick up any team.
“They had their first home defeat since that happened, against the Scarlets last week so they will be tough.
“We always talk about their power game but you have to remember we have one of our own as well and we want to put that out on Saturday.
“The Munster’s of old have always started up front so hopefully we can negate that and go from there.”
The Blues are currently four points adrift of the top six and Danny Wilson set the target of at least three wins from the current block of four matches that comes to an end against Munster.
Williams is acutely aware that it is a decisive period for Wales’ Capital Region and he in under no illusions of the magnitude of Saturday’s game.
He said: “We spoke about the four games from Connacht until this one being a big, make-or-break block for us.
“We have an idea of how many points we want out of this block and realistically if things go our way on the weekend we’ll come out on the right side of that.”
Tickets for Cardiff Blues v Munster are available now by clicking here or calling 029 20 302030.