Wing Tom James admits he is relishing the first derby match of the season as Cardiff Blues head west to face Ospreys in the Guinness PRO12 on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 3pm).

Cardiff Blues will arrive at the Liberty Stadium eager for a return to winning ways in a game that will see a number of Wales internationals match up.

And James – who returned to Wales this season from Exeter Chiefs – admits he has missed the big derby day atmosphere.

He said: “It’s a derby so the boys are really excited. We’ve worked on the errors we made last week and hopefully we will come out all guns blazing.

“Derby games are big. I have been away for two years but you miss playing against the Welsh boys. Everybody is excited about it.

“You are playing against fellow Welsh boys in your position so you want to do well. That is what you thrive on.”

James acknowledges that Cardiff Blues will come up against an in-form Ospreys team who pushed Clermont all the way in Europe last weekend.

However, he insists Cardiff Blues are close to hitting a big performance and there would be no better place than in Swansea this weekend.

“Everyone knows it is tough. Their defence is really organised so it is tough to break them down,” he said.

“Clearly Biggs (Dan Biggar) is playing very well and kicking well and the flankers and back row at Ospreys get turnovers and that is a real threat.

“We’ve haven’t had the wins we should have, but Danny (Wilson) and Steady (Graham Steadman) have come in and made a difference. But individual errors have hurt us in games,” he added.

“The frustrating thing about it is you are talking that five percent, maybe less, off clicking.

“We have scored points but we have switched off in defence and conceded tries. We have to cut out the errors. In attack it is feeling good, but those mistakes in defence are costing us.

“I worked with Danny in the Academy when I first signed for Cardiff Blues. He was really good then and every team he has gone to he has improved.

“Since he has come here he has improved a lot and the players. Our lineout and scrum is stronger and it is the little things that are letting us down. Now we have got to make amends.”