On Sunday the Cardiff Blues take on the Leicester Tigers at the Millennium Stadium, in the regions first Heineken Cup semi-final under the banner of the Blues. (Cardiff RFC got to the final in the first ever Heineken Cup in 1996).
After they demolished Gloucester in the EDF Energy Cup final the Blues take an air of confidence into the game.
They have struggled in recent years, but under the careful leadership of head coach Dai Young the promise of the young sqaud is starting to show.
After the defeat of Gloucester by 50 -12 at Twickenham the rugby world has stood up and took note. The fear for the Blues is that they bolt under this new found pressure.
Sunday will be their biggest test...
Rugby Mad have been in the Blues camp this week to see how preparations for the game are going.
Fronting Up
Head Coach Dai Young is expecting a tough and tight game, that will be 'won and lost upfront'.
He outlined that it is key that the Blues have a good start to game and get points on the board early.
He is weary of the threat that the Leicester will give but believes that if the Blues go out to win the game they can play the kind of rugby that took them to victory at Twickenham.
A big day out
Martyn Williams is looking forward to playing the game at Wales' national stadium.
The veteran flanker, who got the call for the Lions last week, says the winning in contact area as a key part to whether the Blues will be able to come out and perform on Sunday.
Impact Player
Number 8, Andy Powell will be on the bench come Sunday the big Welsh man has been kept out of the starting fifteen by the return from injury of New Zealander Xavier Rush.
Powell believes he is a good impact player and enjoys coming off the bench. Recently picked in the 37 heading out to South Africa in the summer Powell told Rugby Mad that after the injury to Munster's Tomas O'Leary, meaning he will miss the tour, the worry of injury will be at the back of all the Lions players heads before the board the plane in the summer.
There is little doubt that confidence is high in the Blues camp, there is no doubting that, but they are all aware of the big task ahead of them...
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