By Andrew Collins
December 20 2006

Dai Young prepares his side for back-to-back games against all 3 of their Welsh rivals in coming weeks.

The Ospreys arrive at the Arms Park this Saturday, before a trip to Rodney Parade and The Dragons on the 27^th, and finally back home for the visit of the Tolouse-beating Llanelli Scarlets.

 

And for Dai’s men, it’s a crucial time if they are to retain the status as best in Wales.

 

Last year, Cardiff won away at the Liberty Stadium, and home against the Dragons before losing to the Scarlets in west Wales.

 

And the Blues will be looking for those kind of results this time around if they are to secure their position in next years Heineken Cup, just a week after going out of this years.

 

Cardiff may fancy their chances of picking up a clean sweep from the forthcoming fixtures, with two home games and a visit to the lesser of the Welsh sides in a derby clash.

 

At current, Cardiff occupy 6^th position having played 7 games. That’s two games behind leaders Ulster, Leinster and Edinburgh above them, with Connacht (on 10) Munster, Borders and Glasgow below. The other Welsh sides all have 7 games to their name, the Scarlets on 28 points, Ospreys 19, Cardiff 18 and NGD 15.

 

And this weeks encounter will have added spice, being as the two sides meet in March in the Anglo-Welsh Semi-Finals at the Millennium Stadium.

 

Cardiff have only met the Ospreys in this years campaign, going down 18-16 after dominating the match at the Liberty. And following last years double over the O’s, winning both home and away, Lyn Jones’ men will be coming to Cardiff to get some revenge and complete a successful reverse.

 

Tickets for this weekends clash are selling very quickly, with no grand stand tickets available, only standing tickets are now for sale.

 

Fans have been urged to buy now in order to avoid disappointment, and more importantly get behind the boys in numbers after Munster out-shouted us just 2 weeks ago.

 

You can purchase tickets via www.CardiffBlues.com or by calling the ticket office on 02920 20302030.