Samoan prop Logovi'i Mulipola is determined to limit Leicester Tigers' sense of loss over Marcos Ayerza's season-ending injury.
The first-choice Argentine loose-head broke his collar-bone during the Heineken Cup defeat in Toulon and will play no further part in Tigers' tilt at the Aviva Premiership title.
Mulipola admits that is a "big loss" for the club, but it will give the 20-stone front-rower a chance to further prove his value after a season which has already included 25 appearances.
"Marcos is a big loss because he is a very important player for us," said the 26-year-old.
"Not only that, but he is a real help for someone like me, telling me what to do and giving me help with my scrum technique and the angle of my body.
"Marcos is a good player and a good man to have in the squad.
"With the scrum, if you get it wrong, you lose. But, if you get it right, you can be on the front foot.
"I am doing okay but I want to get better, keep on improving and help the guys win games."
Mulipola was part of a massive front-row effort against Wasps last week that got Tigers on the front foot early and drove them on their way to a five-try bonus-point victory.
The Samoan's impact at the club is best shown by the fact that he is set to make his 40th appearance for Leicester at Bath tomorrow, having only made his debut 15 months ago.
With a human battering-ram style of running with ball in hand, Mulipola has quickly been taken to the hearts of the Tigers faithful, and the affable Samoan says he, and the rest of the team, will have to take their perfromance up a notch for the last few games of the season.
"We have been playing well but we have to play better now because we want to win the Premiership," he said.
"We get better as a pack each year and we all help each other in what needs to be done.
"We are definitely one of the best packs in the league and we all have to give 100 per cent until the end of the season, and make sure that we are strong and powerful and get the job done.
"This is a difficult time of the year because we have to get to that final and the pressure is on.
"But the important thing is not to panic and stay clam and concentrate on what we need to do."
