Corniel van Zyl has expressed his excitement as the Blue & Blacks prepare for an away test against Ulster in Belfast on Saturday night (19:45 KO).

The prospect of heading to Belfast has been a strong motivator within the group, with van Zyl pointing to the importance of collective ambition in the build-up, despite having a number of players away with the Welsh international squad ahead of the Six Nations.

“It’s something we’ve spoken about a lot,” he explained. “There’s a real excitement about going up to Belfast and putting in a good performance. That’s been the big aim for the week.”

“Like every club at this stage of the season, we’re in the same boat,” he added. “This is an opportunity for us and that’s how we’re treating it.”

“Yes, the bigger picture is important,” he acknowledged. “But for us this week it’s about how good we can be, how excited we are for the challenge, and recognising the opportunity that’s in front of us.”

Attention has also turned to the challenge posed by Ulster, with Cardiff’s preparation focused heavily on defensive discipline and accuracy, particularly inside the 22.

“What we’ve seen from Ulster is a team that’s very good at keeping the ball in hand and moving the point of contact,” van Zyl noted. “We’ll have to be very good defensively to stay in front of them and keep them out.”

“They’re very potent in the 22,” he continued. “They’re probably one of the top teams for points scored per entry, so we’ll have to be smart around that.”

Van Zyl also spoke highly of the recent return of Ioan Lloyd over the last few matches. The fly-half had been earmarked for game time earlier in the block before suffering a setback that ruled him out for several weeks. He returned to action against Exeter and helped contribute crucial points against Benetton, including an impressive final kick of the game.

“He had a tough run with injuries,” van Zyl explained. “That injury knocked him back for five or six weeks and he lost some game time at fly-half, which is probably his preferred position.”

“He’s comfortable slotting in anywhere, which is important for us,” he added.

Van Zyl also praised Sam Wainwright after he was called into the Wales Six Nations squad in place of teammate Keiron Assiratti due to injury. He highlighted Sam’s professionalism and consistency in training, regardless of selection.

“He works the same every week whether he’s selected or not,” he said. “That’s a great characteristic to have. He just focuses on doing his job and being the best he can be, and that really speaks volumes about him.”

Cardiff now head to Belfast determined to turn preparation into performance as they face a demanding Ulster test under the lights on Saturday night (19:45 KO).