Defence coach Gethin Jenkins is expecting a tough challenge on Saturday when Cardiff face Scarlets at Parc Y Scarlets.
The Llanelli based team have returned to Wales following a fortnight in South Africa where they were defeated by DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls.
Despite the losses, Jenkins believes there will be a marked improvement in their performance when they face the Blue and Blacks on Saturday.
“They've obviously had a tough start of the season but we've been around long enough to know that this is a tough place to go South Africa,” said Jenkins.
“They've had a young team out there for two games and they were left some boys behind looking to get them back in this week and it's going to be a tough challenge for us.
“We'll see the best Scarlets they’ve probably been this season on Saturday and we know what's coming from them and we know where we have to be good and we've done a lot of work focusing on what we can do as a group and where we can go with our game plan and what we can imprint on them.
“It’s a tough place to go, you know they were always very strong when I was playing, it was a really tough place to go and it wouldn't be any different on the weekend.
“Obviously we've had a little bit of a success recently as Cardiff but you know they’re a proud bunch and they've got good support, so it'll be a tough game.”
Jenkin, who previously coached Cardiff RFC and the club’s academy, re-joined the Cardiff Rugby coaching team in the summer as the club’s new defence coach on a consultancy basis.
After pre-season and just two matches into the campaign, Jenkins has settled back quickly and is happy with how the players have adapted to his defensive systems, citing his previous experience of working with some of the players as a benefit.
“I've probably been pleased with some of the stuff I've been working on training that's come across,” added Jenkins.
“It's still a battle in terms of getting some of the boys up to speed with the systems that I'm bringing in and what I expect from them, but I can't fault their attitude and their willingness to learn.
“A big thing for defence is your attitude and your effort, so if we can show that again in abundance, we’ll be coming out of it again with hopefully a decent performance. The result will take care of itself if we perform well.
“I'm familiar with a lot of the boys. I think from the first meetings I said I probably coached 20 to 25 and I played with a lot of them as well which makes it a bit easier to blend in, a bit easier to get your stuff across.
“Also, I'd worked with the previous defence coach a lot in terms of playing under him and alongside him in my last role as a coach.
“It's a long process I think in terms of getting my style across and getting across to the players what we expect of them. But you know, we can't fault them, they're buying in and they're working hard to try and get results on the weekend.”