Joe Roberts insists the competition for places in the Scarlets midfield is driving standards as the team look to finish this season’s BKT URC campaign strongly.
The 25-year-old Wales international has been in impressive try-scoring form in the URC, but sat out last weekend’s win over Zebre because of a concussion picked up the previous week in Belfast.
Joe has scored three tries in his last two outings, taking him into the top 10 of the league’s try-scoring chart with six to his name.
But he knows there are no guarantees with Eddie James and Joe Hawkins the starting centre pairing for Wales during the Six Nations and Johnny Williams and Macs Page pairing up impressively last weekend.
“There is a load of competition here at centre and it forces us all to perform, it is driving everyone,” said Joe, speaking to the media ahead of Friday’s round 14 clash with Leinster in Dublin.
“It’s been a season of ups and downs for me, there have been times when I have been struggling with injury and I was disappointed to miss out on international selection, but that is swings and roundabouts, I guess.
“It’s been nice to pick up a few tries in the last couple of games and for me now it is about finishing the season strongly.
“I have spoken to (Wales head coach) Steve (Tandy) and Jockey (Matt Sherratt) and they have been clear with their expectations. They spoke to me throughout the whole process, between the autumn and the Six Nations and after the Six Nations squad was announced. I have just got to keep working hard and look to put my best foot forward to try and get back in there.”
Looking forward to the challenge that awaits at the Aviva, Joe added: “Leinster are going to be hurting after their loss (against Glasgow) last weekend, but we have a clear gameplan and know we need a big performance.
“The boys are well aware of the strength of the Leinster squad and the international players they have in the side. You know you have to be right up there because of the quality they have.
“We played at the Aviva in the play-off last season and that was a good battle, I enjoyed it. It is a great stadium and I’m looking forward to going there on Friday and seeing what we can do.
“For us this season, it is about putting in performances week in week out and striving to get better, that is the key.”