"It's been tough," he says. "Pre-season is always a tough time for any rugby player and there seems to be a little bit of extra spice here at the Saints. It's been a challenge but I've thoroughly enjoyed it."
The England Saxons centre also believes that while he may not walk straight into the starting line-up at Franklin's Gardens, that can only be a good thing as he looks to relive the glory days he enjoyed with former club Wasps.
"There's plenty of quality throughout the squad and that's one of the main reasons I came here. I felt I needed a new challenge, a fresh start, and where better to get that than at one of the top clubs in the country - in the Heineken Cup and competing for the top trophies.
"There are world class players everywhere you look in the changing room and an increasing strength in depth. It's certainly going to be a test to get one of those starting shirts but it's a challenge I'm keen on and I'll be giving it my all every time I step onto the pitch."
Unless you're heading out to support the Saints in the south of France, the first time you could catch Dom in action might well be in the first home friendly of 2012/13 when back-to-back Heineken Cup champions Leinster come to the Gardens.