On the eve of a potential 100th Premiership Rugby appearance for Leicester Tigers, Mat Tait has told LTTV the squad are 'feeling good' and 'confident' ahead of Sunday's away trip to face Saracens.
Tait's career began in 2004 playing for Newcastle Falcons, in which he scored a try with his first touch of a ball in a Premiership fixture against London Irish and has included domestic glory for Leicester and 36 appearances for England, highlighted by a starring role in the 2007 World Cup campaign which went all the way to the final match only to be defeated by South Africa.
Debuting for Tigers in September 2011 after making a high-profile off-season move from Sale Sharks, the versatile outside back has made 137 appearances for the Leicester club to date and this Sunday - if used from the bench - will make it a century in the all-English competition.
When asked about the milestone, the famously modest Tait admitted, "I don't remember much about any of them to be honest."
Coming off a strong victory over Harlequins at Welford Road last weekend, the Tigers face one of the competition's most challenging away trips on Sunday afternoon, however the utility-back insists the group is in a good frame of mind ahead of the match.
"The feeling is good, the mood is confident," Tait told LTTV.
"It's a great opportunity for the group, on the back of a good win last weekend, to keep ourselves in the mix.
"With the league as tight as it is, every point is precious."
Mat Tait
With new forwards coach Mark Bakewell already implementing changes for the Tigers 'pack' with 630am starts, consisting of boxing sessions to kick-off the training day, Tait says the new approach has re-energised the group as a whole.
"The forwards are buzzing to have someone come in with new ideas," he said.
"Not sure they're enjoying boxing at 630 in the mornings and hopefully it doesn't spread to the backs," laughed the now 32-year-old outside back.
However, the experienced Tait also knows that what is said matters little when it comes to a challenge like Saracens away from home.
"Ultimately those are just words. We need to go down tomorrow and put in to practice what we've been doing this week and hope that's enough to come away with a result."
Sam Harrison will also reach the milestone of 100 Premiership appearances for the Leicester club on Sunday, with the Tigers Academy graduate named to start at scrum-half in the absence of Ben Youngs who was injured on England duty in the opening round of the Six Nations.
See the Tigers side named for the Round 16 Aviva Premiership fixture here.
