The 20-year-old put in a man of the match performance including a try as the Cardiff Blues beat the Dragons in the corresponding fixture last season. And Lane is hopeful of replicating last season’s performance this weekend.
“I set up a try and I was man of the match,” which was amazing.
“It was my first taste of a derby and it is a different occasion. It was a packed house on Boxing Day and I enjoyed the experience.
“Hopefully, it will be the same experience this year and we can get a win as well. I can remember being very nervous warming up there last year.
“The atmosphere was great, but after the first whistle you relax and get into the swing of things. I really enjoyed the experience, although it helped that I had a good game.”
John Mulvihill’s side have won their last two Guinness PRO14 encounters against Munster and the Cheetahs respectively. And despite travelling to Rodney Parade as favourites Lane insists it will be a tough challenge against the Dragons.
“It is the first derby of the year and the boys are raring to go,” he said.
“It wasn’t a great performance last week against the Cheetahs and hopefully we can put that right and get an important win.
“An away trip of only 12 miles is better than flying anywhere else to play and you can be back in your own bed in the night. It is a tough place to go and hopefully there will be a good crowd there. The Dragons have had a few tough results, but they played well last week in Glasgow.”
The Dragons are looking for their first derby win since 2014 but have an ace up their sleeve in one of the PRO14’s best opensides Ollie Griffiths. Tomorrow’s derby is set to pit Griffiths against Blues captain Ellis Jenkins with both players vying for a place in Warren Gatland’s Wales squad.
And Griffiths is confident he can make a favourable impression at Rodney Parade.
“It’s a massive game and everyone will be looking at it, especially with the selection in a few weeks,” admitted Griffiths.
“Whenever I play against someone like Ellis or James Davies, you know they are great players who are great over the ball, but you try not to think about the individual battle too much because then you lose focus of the bigger picture and the things that you have gone through in training.
“I just have to play my normal game and hopefully negate his strengths, which is jackalling over the ball along with Josh Navidi and Nick Williams.”
