Shane Lewis-Hughes insists Cardiff Blues are relishing the challenge ahead as they target a festive clean sweep in the festive derbies when they prepare to welcome Scarlets to the Welsh capital for the first Guinness PRO14 clash in 2020.
John Mulvihill’s side signed off 2019 with back-to-back derby wins over Ospreys and Dragons.
Lewis-Hughes, who crossed for his side’s only try in the victory over Dragons, is eager to continue his fine run of form for the region, having penned a new deal with Cardiff Blues last week.
“We’ll have a couple of days off now to let the bodies recover and then we’ll be back flat-out on it before the next game,” said the back row.
“We’ve got the Scarlets coming up, which is another big game and they don’t come any easier. But it’s a challenge that we’re relishing and we can’t wait to get stuck in.
“I’m trying to be the best that I can be every single day in training, to prepare myself for the weekend.
“I have a goal to get better each week and each day and the rest will take care of itself.
“Last year I broke through in January and started playing a bit more and this year I’m having more consistent game time.
“I’m just very grateful for the opportunity. I realise how lucky I am to get to do this as a job, and I realise that a lot of people would give an arm and a leg away to do what I do.
“I want to prove that I’m the best. I put a lot of work in every single day and when it comes to opportunities like this you have to hope you take it.
“That’s what you can judge yourself by. If you continually work to get better, when it comes to game time you can execute, and that’s what I try to do.
“When it comes to the weekend, however it goes, I know in myself that I put everything in during the week to get my prep right.”
Lewis-Hughes admits the performance in the win over Dragons wasn’t perfect but insisted the main goal in the derby encounters is to ensure the result.
The former Wales under-20 international added: “It was brilliant. We took a lot of confidence from the win over Ospreys last week.
“We knew today wasn’t going to be an easy task, but we came with the mindset that we needed to match their physicality and that’s what we did. We spoke about playing in the right areas, being patient with the ball.
“Our discipline in the breakdown area let us down a little bit again but the main things with these derbies is coming away with a win.
“I felt there were a lot of positives to take away while there’s always stuff to work on as well.”