TOMORROW’S derby against the Ospreys is another key game for us as a region, and both teams will no doubt try to ride the wave of positivity off the back of the Grand Slam.

It will be a bruising encounter and I’ve often been helped from the field at the Liberty Stadium .

Last season it didn’t end too well when I found myself under Ma’afu Fia when the hefty prop was going over the line.

Not only was a try awarded – bafflingly, because I swear I got under the ball as well as the Tongan – but I tore my right pectoral muscle.

Previous seasons I’ve had multiple stitches, been knocked out cold and had calf strains. In Swansea I always seem to come off worse for wear, so even though I do love to play a derby game, I might not be too bothered about missing this one!

We’ve won there once and even on that occasion I wasn’t playing because of a broken thumb.

I watched it around a friend’s house and even though I was only 23 my mates were offering me condolences that my career was over before it started – as an 18-year-old Toby Faletau certainly made an impression that day!

We beat the Ospreys at Rodney Parade in December and I would have loved to be part of the effort again to make it a double but sadly my calf problem means I’ll sit this one out.

It’s going to be physical and standing up to their pack was vital in our win over Christmas.

Bodies will be sore on Saturday night and Sunday morning and I’d imagine the Ospreys will be especially fired up because of the off-field drama.

After all the talk of a merger between them and the Scarlets, there is still a little bit of uncertainty and at times it seems that the exploits of the Wales team paper over the cracks.

However, the Grand Slam was great and after everybody turns into massive rugby nuts for the Six Nations it would be nice if a few of those turn up at the Liberty this weekend, because it makes a real difference when the grounds are packed.

We’ve got our Wales internationals back for the rest of the season after the boys held the fort against Ulster.

To have Ross Moriarty and Aaron Wainwright available in the back row is particularly timely given that Ollie Griffiths, Nic Cudd and Harri Keddie are out for the run-in and me and James Benjamin are struggling.

Wales Under-20s internationals Lennon Greggains and Taine Basham did well against Ulster alongside Huw Taylor and they have bright futures, but having some more experience for a derby game is a massive boost.

How we go up front will be massively important tomorrow, because matching the Ospreys’ physicality was huge in the win that ended a four-year derby losing streak.

Hopefully the boys will put in a big performance to set us up nicely for the double-header in South Africa, a trip I would certainly like to make myself available for.

Last year we found out how tough it can be out there after being smashed by the Southern Kings in the second half.

We don’t have a fixture next weekend but still face a big week of preparation before we head to Port Elizabeth, so doubling the Ospreys would be perfect.

- I'm pleased to have signed a new two-year contract with the Dragons that will allow me to develop as a coach. I'll talk about that transition in depth next column.