HEINEKEN CUP SEMI-FINAL
Venue: Millennium Stadium Date: Sunday, 3 May Kick-off: 1500 BST Coverage: Commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Leicester and online, plus text commentary on BBC Sport website. Live on Sky Sports 2

Jamie Roberts takes on Leicester in the EDF Energy Cup in October 2008

Jamie Roberts says Cardiff Blues deserve to be favourites for Sunday's Heineken Cup semi-final against Leicester at the Millennium Stadium.

The Blues have won all 12 cup matches they have played this season.

"We are favourites... 12 from 12 is something pretty special and that's unmatched in European rugby," he said.

"We're playing some really attractive rugby and if we click I thoroughly believe we can put them [Leicester] to the sword."

The Wales centre and 2009 Lion elect says the fact the Blues have six tourists heading to South Africa and Leicester none may well give the Tigers added motivation.

But he says the Blues' stars are ready to justify their selection for the tour.

BLUES' 2008-09 CUP RECORD EDF Energy Cup: Sale 17-18 Blues Heineken Cup: Calvisano 20-56 Blues HC: Blues 37-24 Leicester EDF: Blues 23-9 Leicester EDF: Blues 24-18 Bath HC: Blues 21-17 Biarritz HC: Biarritz 6-10 Blues HC: Gloucester 12-16 Blues HC: Blues 62-20 Calvisano EDF Blues 11-5 Northampton HC: Blues 9-6 Toulouse EDF Final 50-12 Gloucester

Roberts said: "They will have a lot of disappointed guys who weren't picked for that Lions squad - the likes of Tom Croft and so forth, guys who a lot of people were tipping to go. They'll be looking to prove a point, most definitely.

"But again it's up to our guys that we deserve our place on the plane and it's not about Lions, really.

"It's about us as Cardiff Blues and what we've striven to achieve this season."

Roberts says the Blues' recent performances, including a 50-12 EDF Energy Cup final win over Gloucester, show how potent they have become.

He said: "I think confidence is a key word. Over the last three or four weeks we've really shown what we're about as a side when it really matters and maybe we haven't done that in previous seasons.

"At the business end of the season we really have produced results and that showed in the EDF performance [against Gloucester] and we're looking forward to taking that into Sunday.

606: DEBATE Is Jamie Roberts' confidence justified?

"Toulouse [the Blues beat them 9-6 in the Heineken quarter-finals] was a huge step forward for us to show that we can compete with that calibre of side and hopefully come Sunday evening we'll be looking at a Heineken Cup final."

But Roberts acknowledges the Tigers will be aiming to triumph in the Welsh region's biggest game to date.

"As a region it's certainly our biggest game since we were created really and it's going to be the biggest game a lot of our boys have played, myself included on a club stage," he said.

"The semi-final of a Heineken Cup is something special and especially here at Cardiff where the last time we reached these stages was back in 1996, I think so yeah, it's a huge occasion and we've just got to make sure that this week goes right.

"Obviously they are going very well in the Guinness Premiership. They've topped the premiership this season and are in the play-offs and are a very strong side.

"The calibre of their players they attract is something very special and they are going to be an extremely tough side to beat, but… we're a side full of confidence at the moment."

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