Danny Wilson believes Saturday's Guinness PRO12 visit to Leinster is an opportunity for his side to build momentum ahead of a crucial block of matches over the next month.
Cardiff Blues travel to the Irish capital to take on the championship leaders, following two weeks out of action, before a crucial European Challenge Cup quarter-final clash against Gloucester the following week, with Judgement Day V also looming.
Wilson and his side are fully aware of the challenges they face at the RDS Arena on Saturday, and insists the hunt for European Champions Cup qualification is still alive.
“It’s about building performances now, and we need a performance away at Leinster to then go into a quarter final against Gloucester the very next week, which is a key target game for us,” said Wilson.
“We’ll be aiming for an away win there and qualify for a semi-final which would be a fantastic achievment for us if we could do that.
“Leinster are top of the league and a quality side playing some great rugby, especially at home. You’ve seen some of the sides who have gone to their place and taken some heavy beatings recently.
“There’s no bigger challenge, but it’s certainly one we’re motivated for and looking forward to.
“We’ve got some big games ahead of us and they’re games we’re going to take extremely seriously, because if we don’t make the top six this year, we can be in a play-off spot, which gives us an opportunity to make the Champions Cup next year.”
"The boys have trained well over the past couple of weeks without a game, and it’s allowed us to get a few boys back from injury. But that’s the same for Leinster, and I know they’ll have some big hitters back from injury and probably some big hitters back from the Ireland.
"I think we showed at the start of the season, with a very fit and healthy squad, we won seven out of 10 games, with some great wins. We showed what we are capable of."
Meanwhile, Wilson will be looking to reintroduce players involved in Wales' RBS Six Nations squad on a player-by-player basis, and also hopes to see Wales prop Gethin Jenkins, who has been out of action since December with a bicep injury, return to a Cardiff Blues shirt very soon.
"With the internationals returning, it will be done on an individual basis, based on how much rugby these guys have played and how their bodies are in terms of recovery. We’ll make the relevant decisions going into the next two games.
"Gethin, being Gethin, was extremely keen to get back as quickly as he possibly could and he set himself some very big targets which he's worked extremely hard to get to.
"He was probably just a week or two off those targets, but we’re hoping, if he ticks the relevant physio and conditioning boxes, that you’ll see him back in a Cardiff Blues shirt and back on the rugby field within the next couple of weeks.
"As each week goes on, there are certain protocols and tests the likes of Gethin have to meet and achieve. As the week goes on to whether he’s available for selection, he’s in that process and he’s going well so we’ll see."