The big interview: Tom Vickers talks to Saints forward Tom Lockett

Those are the words of Saints forward Tom Lockett, who is relishing the prospect of playing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening.

The black, green and gold will be up against Saracens in a mouthwatering Gallagher PREM game dubbed 'The Showdown 6' (kick-off 6pm).

And Lockett said: "I am very much looking forward to it.

"I've seen a lot of Premier League games on TV there and heard a lot about it, and it's probably one of the best stadiums in the UK, isn't it?

"To get a chance to not only go there but play there, that will be pretty cool.

"The stadium is an external factor and by going down there the day before, we sort of eliminate that. We get the wow factor of the stadium out of the way and then come game day we can focus on our job.

"We'll obviously enjoy Friday, we'll enjoy the stadium. It's not a once in a lifetime experience but it's a pretty cool experience and then when that's out of the way, we can focus on the job we've got to do.

"As a rugby fan, I know that if I wasn't playing I'd be massively excited to watch it so that means playing in this game is a massive honour and we want to do the best we can to put in a good performance and come out with a good result, not only for ourselves but for all the lads who are injured and don't get an opportunity.

"Every game is a chance to perform for those players who are not playing and we want to do them proud for all the effort they put in during the week and how hard they work without getting a chance.

"We're honoured we're the players who get the chance to play."

With Saints travelling to the stadium the day before the game, the match will have Investec Champions Cup away-day vibes.

And with Phil Dowson's men having done so well on their travels in Europe in recent years, they will look to use that approach again this week.

"The best way to get experience is by playing in these big games and it means when you get back to those situations you know you've been there before and you know what works, what doesn't, you know how to get back on script," Lockett said.

"They're all things we've learned over the past couple of years so hopefully in the run-in, when we inevitably play some big games, we'll be in a better place to deal with them.

"The work we've done up to this point has given us the chance to play big games.

"We won't go too far away from the thing that's got us into this position, the way we've played and how diligent we've been.

"We'll continue to do lots of the same things in the hope that we get lots of the same results."

Saints will have their international stars back this week to add crucial big-game know-how.

"They bring calm heads and lots of experience," Lockett said. "That's what you'd expect, isn't it?

"A lot of them have played a lot of Test matches and they know what it takes to win big games, which is pretty crucial.

"They're very good at leading us, very good at talking, they've been there before and they've seen pretty much everything so they're great for dealing with situations when things don't go to plan."

Saints are set to be backed by a sizeable travelling army of supporters at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

And Lockett said: "We're very lucky that wherever we go we know there's going to be a lot of Saints fans, and it's something we're very grateful for.

"We 100 per cent feel the support everywhere we go and that's part of the reason we've been able to have so many cool wins away in different stadiums.

"It's no secret that gives you the extra 10 per cent you need when you're defending on your own goal-line. You can hear the Saints fans in the background and it's something we're massively grateful for and we never take for granted."

Saints know that Saracens will be fired up on Saturday evening, having suffered a humbling 62-15 defeat at Bath last Friday.

"Obviously this is their big game and it will be a cool experience for everyone but coming off the back of quite a big loss, they'll be looking to bring a lot of energy, to get stuck into us early, but we're expecting that and we've played Saracens enough times over the years to know what they bring, to know what they're good at, to know where we can get at them," Lockett said.

"We'll have to be on it because they're a very good team full of very, very good players but we're confident we've got enough in our locker room to deal with it."

Lockett may only be 23 years old but he has already racked up 56 appearances for Saints.

Eleven of those appearances have come this season in a campaign that has seen the forward have to recover from a frustrating injury sustained on England A duty back in November.

"The start of the season was good," Lockett said.

"Obviously I got called into an England camp and got injured playing for England A, which was quite frustrating.

"I had a bit of time out so it was nice over the PRC (PREM Rugby Cup) block to get some game time and hopefully now going into the run-in I'll be fit and firing and be able to perform as well as possible."

When asked about the injury he suffered, Lockett explained: "I tore a ligament in my knee, which was obviously annoying.

"I played on for about 20 minutes and then I couldn't really move it any further.

"It was frustrating because I was playing well and I'd come off half a week in the senior England camp so it was probably the worst time to get injured.

"It is what it is and no one will ever tell you an injury is fun, but it was just about getting myself in a good physical condition so when I came back I could attack the run-in.

"Hopefully that's the position I've put myself in now.

"Obviously I'm grateful that the lads over the time I was out have put us in a position where we're top of the league, we're through to the knockouts in Europe and there's still so much to play for so hopefully I can stay fit for the rest."

Lockett has come through the Saints Academy as a second row forward but he has recently been utilised at six, in the same way Courtney Lawes and Alex Coles have been.

"The way we play the game, it's very similar and the role doesn't change too much for the six," Lockett said.

"You're still trying to get your hands on the ball, you're still trying to be as physical as possible, it just probably means occasionally you might find yourself a bit wider than you would in the second row.

"It's another string to my bow.

"I'm still primarily a second row but playing at six is something Colesy (Alex Coles) has added to his game and something he's been so good at.

"Obviously you saw Courtney (Lawes) start in the second row and move back, but at the moment I'm a second row who can play six.

"It's definitely good to have."

Lockett has been making the most of the knowledge of Coles, who has shone at six in recent times for Saints.

"He's obviously someone who's got great experience of the game in general and someone who is great to lean on, not only for positional stuff but for game management," Lockett said.

"He's been in all those situations before so he's massive as someone to lean on for advice, and he's very happy to give it."