'Really cool occasion' as Sleightholme gets set to hit Saints 100 at Bath

After all, he answered the call in last season's Investec Champions Cup final for an injury-hit Saints, coming off the bench after just three minutes against Union Bordeaux Bègles.

It couldn't have been a much tougher task for a man who hadn't played a single game for his club for almost five months as Bordeaux, with Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud, boasted two of the best wingers in world rugby.

But Sleightholme stood up to the challenge and didn't let his side down as they pushed Bordeaux all the way in the Cardiff showpiece, despite losing three key men to injury during the first period.

Saints eventually lost 28-20 at the Principality Stadium, but Sleightholme could be proud with how he performed, making it all the way to the end of a frantic European affair.

He has been hit with injury issues again this season, limiting him to just 11 appearances so far, though he has racked up seven tries in that time.

But Sleightholme is set to be back in action in the big Champions Cup quarter-final at Bath, where he will make his 100th appearance for Saints.

And he goes into the game on a high, having got married to long-time partner Lucy in front of many of his Saints team-mates last weekend.

"It's alright so far," Sleightholme said, when asked about the early stages of married life. "It's only been a couple of days!

"It was a really lovely day and it was really nice to spend the day with family and friends celebrating.

"It was mid-season team-bonding and everyone seemed to have fun so that's all that matters.

"Big game this weekend and we can get the honeymoon done when it's all done and dusted at the end of the year."

Reflecting on the season so far, Sleightholme, whose most recent game for Saints came against Newcastle Red Bulls on March 21, said: "I've had a couple of injuries this season, little niggles.

"I had a little niggle with my shoulder and lost a bit of form so I'm just trying to get back playing consistent rugby really.

"For me, it is difficult (to get form back quickly after being out).

"Everyone's very different and some people can drop back in and be where they were when they left off.

"Me personally, I need training time, I need game time to sort of get me to a point where I can play my best rugby."

So what makes it so tough to return to form after being on the sidelines?

"Maybe it's a bit of a confidence thing in terms of reminding myself what I can do and what I'm good at," Sleightholme said.

"Then there's the whole doing it and repeating that element and practising what you want to do."

When it was put to him that he didn't do too badly after coming back from a long lay-off to take on Bordeaux last season, Sleightholme smiled and said: "Sometimes you can get away with it a bit, I guess.

"I've had two or three weeks of good training now so hopefully I can really look forward to this weekend and feel confident."

Sleightholme has been able to warm up with the team prior to recent matches.

And when asked what it's been like to go through the pre-match routine but not play, he said: "It is frustrating but everyone's been flying it and we've been smashing it so I can't complain with that."

Sleightholme will be more than just a travelling reserve this weekend though.

And he can't wait to take to the field to hit his Saints century.

"It will be my 100th appearance this weekend and it's a really cool occasion to be able to do it at The Rec in the European quarter-final," said the man who will celebrate his 26th birthday on Monday.

"In a way, it can make it all the more special that you're going to somewhere you know you've been before against a team that are flying as well as we are at the moment.

"We want to go down there and put a statement out."

So what have Academy graduate Sleightholme's highlights been in his senior career with Saints so far?

"PREM final would be up there, PREM debut would be up there, there's a few," he said.

"I feel really privileged to be able to do it for my home club and still be here playing with my mates who I grew up playing in the Academy with.

"I'm really chuffed to get out there this weekend."