Derbies always extra special says Tito

The Blues host the Dragons on Boxing Day before travelling to the Ospreys on New Year's Day and the New Zealander cannot wait for kick off.

Tito says the extra spice between teams from the same country always adds to the excitement for players, coaches and supporters alike - and he expects things to be no different this time around.

"Derbies are really important, especially over the Christmas period," said Tito, who has featured in all eight of his side's Magners League fixtures so far this season.

"The derby games in this country are very similar to the derby games back home in New Zealand.

"There is a great rivalry and you know when you take the field that you're in for a battle. I'm really looking forward to it."

The Blues go into Saturday's clash with the Dragons on the back of a comfortable league win over Connacht on December 6 but Tito insists his side won't be underestimating the Dragons.

Paul Turner's men currently sit eight points behind the Dragons in the race for the Magners League play offs and Tito knows that a 12-point gap would be very hard to overhaul in the second-half of the season.

"The Dragons have been on fire this season and they deserve to be fourth in the table," added Tito.

"But we have to get on with the job ahead us. We have to stand up and get in their faces. We really have to rip into them if we are to stand any chance of winning.

"It's going to be a very feisty and very difficult 80 minutes, but that's what local derbies are all about and I'm really looking forward to it.

"The only thing we are concentrating on is the massive game against the Dragons."