Wright would be happy to receive another Pollock headbutt before Sale clash

And if that is the case, Wright would be more than happy as it has been a pre-match ritual that has helped him in what has been a huge breakthrough season for the 21-year-old hooker so far.

Speaking this week about the strength of character and ability in the Saints dressing room, Wright told this publication: "The lads are buzzing.

"Pollock's being loud, Colesy (Alex Coles) is revving everyone up and then Dingers (Fraser Dingwall) is coming through, calm, level-headed, telling everyone what we need to do, what kind of clear messages we need to get.

"I've found myself getting a slap from Pollock, trying to rev me up and get me going. I've even had a headbutt from him before the game against Pau! He gets proper revved up before games and I quite like it. It's really good energy to have around you."

When asked whether he is one of the calmer members of the Saints squad before games, Wright smiled and said: "Not really. When I get on the pitch I can get very hot-headed and aggressive so I need to try to calm down as much as I can and then as soon as I can flick that switch, that will be ideal for me.

"Then as soon as we're about to go out for the game, Pollock will rev us up, give us a slap and that kind of puts me in the right mindset."

So would he ever consider be the one dishing out the headbutts in the opposite direction?

Wright laughed as he said: "Maybe, if he (Pollock) wants it!"

Wright shot onto the scene at Saints last season, making 14 appearances, including one from the bench in the Investec Champions Cup final.

But should he feature at Sale Sharks on Saturday, he would already have matched his tally of games from the previous campaign this time round.

He has started in eight of his 13 appearances so far this season, scoring two tries, including one in the 43-28 win against Scarlets last Sunday.

And Wright said: "It's been really good. I've been managing to get a few starts under my belt and a few benches as well.

"Last season, I wasn't getting as much consistent game time so for me to come into the PREM and Europe now and get plenty of starts and benches, it's really enabling me to develop as a player and it's really making my game flourish.

"I'm really enjoying it."

When asked whether he had expected this level of involvement in the Saints side this season, Wright said: "I was touch and go towards the end of last season.

"I came off the bench against Exeter, had a really good game there, then I came off the bench against Saracens when Curtis (Langdon) got an injury so I ended up playing 65 minutes.

"I saw that as an opportunity for me to really showcase myself and that led to me getting my second game ever in Europe, being on the bench in the final against Bordeaux.

"We were proper buzzing for that final.

"The squad has changed ever so slightly with some new boys coming in but it hasn't taken away anything from our game, we're still playing the rugby we want to play and we've all bought in really well.

"We've made sure that all the new lads like Danilo (Fischetti) and JJ (van der Mescht) feel as welcome as possible so they've just slotted straight into our system and got straight in amongst it.

"For me, coming into this season, I thought I could maybe be on the bench or be starting so I saw the opportunity and grabbed it with two hands."

Curtis Langdon's shoulder injury, which has seen him miss all of this season so far, opened the door for Wright and Robbie Smith to take biggest roles in the Saints No.2 shirt.

And Wright's development has been hugely impressive as he continues to get better week by week.

"It's like a fake it ‘til you make it," he said, when asked whether he now feels fully confident in the first team.

"The amount of games I'm getting now is definitely building my confidence up.

"At the start, I probably wasn't as confident, but then I've started to believe in myself, build on my game, make sure it's at the standard I want it to be at and nitpicking little errors and faults that I make on the pitch and try to better them the week after."

So which areas of his game has Wright really focused on?

"Last season, my defence probably wasn't where I wanted it to be," he said.

"I was working hard on improving that in training and around the pitch, doing what I say I'm going to do in games as well.

"That's definitely become a better part of my game, a strong point.

"My attacking shape as well, I make sure I get as many carries as possible around the park and I always feel my set piece is a strong point as well."

Langdon has been a help to Wright, who lists a few former Saints hookers among his biggest influences in his young career so far.

"Curtis is very helpful but I've been here five years coming through the Academy so the biggest influences for me would be the likes of Mike Haywood and Sam Matavesi as well," Wright said. "They've been great role models and learning from them is really good.

"Tom Cruse as well was a brilliant player to learn from, he's always willing to help you and that's why he's gone into coaching.

"Those three role models have definitely helped my game."

Wright has made his way on to a couple of highlights reels by using his pace to help him score eye-catching tries.

"I've had a little bit of pace," he said. "I've scored some good tries with my speed. I scored one against Nottingham, which was good, then when I played England Under-20s two or three years ago against South Africa I managed to get a really good try there with my pace.

"I think I've lost it a little bit now because I've put on a bit of weight to help me in other areas, but I feel it's somewhat still there."

So has he raced and beaten any of the Saints backs in training?

"I have a couple of times," Wright said. "I've scored a few tries in training as well.

"I can't do the Pollock chip and chases in a match but I'll give them a go in training."

Next up for Saints is that tricky trip to Sale, where they have not won in the league since March 2017.

"They're a very physical side and we're definitely going to try to meet that physicality and exceed it," Wright said.

"We want to play our game and put our game on them.

"When we played them at home (in December), we met them physically and then we moved the ball around, got into space and we had Pollock and (George) Hendy finishing some tries. It's definitely what our DNA is and what we do as a team.

"Everyone's on their own personal journey to try to find out what works for them when they go away to games.

"We've definitely been able to grasp a hold of that and find out what works out for us.

"I feel like I've somewhat got there but obviously there are still tweaks there where I can better my game when I'm playing away.

"But if the lads are in the right mindset, which I'm sure we will be, we can put our best game out there against Sale."