diff --git a/codex/slots/proofs/backends/circomcompat.nim b/codex/slots/proofs/backends/circomcompat.nim
index 70ff4dffd..8619457a4 100644
--- a/codex/slots/proofs/backends/circomcompat.nim
+++ b/codex/slots/proofs/backends/circomcompat.nim
@@ -9,17 +9,14 @@
 
 {.push raises: [].}
 
-import std/sequtils
+import std/sugar
 
 import pkg/chronos
 import pkg/questionable/results
 import pkg/circomcompat
-import pkg/poseidon2/io
 
 import ../../types
 import ../../../stores
-import ../../../merkletree
-import ../../../codextypes
 import ../../../contracts
 
 import ./converters
@@ -39,6 +36,41 @@ type
     backendCfg    : ptr CircomBn254Cfg
     vkp*          : ptr CircomKey
 
+  NormalizedProofInputs*[H] {.borrow: `.`.} = distinct ProofInputs[H]
+
+func normalizeInput*[H](self: CircomCompat, input: ProofInputs[H]):
+    NormalizedProofInputs[H] =
+  ## Parameters in CIRCOM circuits are statically sized and must be properly
+  ## padded before they can be passed onto the circuit. This function takes
+  ## variable length parameters and performs that padding.
+  ##
+  ## The output from this function can be JSON-serialized and used as direct
+  ## inputs to the CIRCOM circuit for testing and debugging when one wishes
+  ## to bypass the Rust FFI.
+
+  let normSamples = collect:
+    for sample in input.samples:
+      var merklePaths = sample.merklePaths
+      merklePaths.setLen(self.slotDepth)
+      Sample[H](
+        cellData: sample.cellData,
+        merklePaths: merklePaths
+      )
+
+  var normSlotProof = input.slotProof
+  normSlotProof.setLen(self.datasetDepth)
+
+  NormalizedProofInputs[H] ProofInputs[H](
+    entropy: input.entropy,
+    datasetRoot: input.datasetRoot,
+    slotIndex: input.slotIndex,
+    slotRoot: input.slotRoot,
+    nCellsPerSlot: input.nCellsPerSlot,
+    nSlotsPerDataSet: input.nSlotsPerDataSet,
+    slotProof: normSlotProof,
+    samples: normSamples
+  )
+
 proc release*(self: CircomCompat) =
   ## Release the ctx
   ##
@@ -49,27 +81,20 @@ proc release*(self: CircomCompat) =
   if not isNil(self.vkp):
     self.vkp.unsafeAddr.release_key()
 
-proc prove*[H](
+proc prove[H](
   self: CircomCompat,
-  input: ProofInputs[H]): ?!CircomProof =
-  ## Encode buffers using a ctx
-  ##
+  input: NormalizedProofInputs[H]): ?!CircomProof =
 
-  # NOTE: All inputs are statically sized per circuit
-  # and adjusted accordingly right before being passed
-  # to the circom ffi - `setLen` is used to adjust the
-  # sequence length to the correct size which also 0 pads
-  # to the correct length
   doAssert input.samples.len == self.numSamples,
     "Number of samples does not match"
 
   doAssert input.slotProof.len <= self.datasetDepth,
-    "Number of slot proofs does not match"
+    "Slot proof is too deep - dataset has more slots than what we can handle?"
 
   doAssert input.samples.allIt(
     block:
       (it.merklePaths.len <= self.slotDepth + self.blkDepth and
-      it.cellData.len <= self.cellElms * 32)), "Merkle paths length does not match"
+      it.cellData.len == self.cellElms)), "Merkle paths too deep or cells too big for circuit"
 
   # TODO: All parameters should match circom's static parametter
   var
@@ -116,8 +141,7 @@ proc prove*[H](
   var
     slotProof = input.slotProof.mapIt( it.toBytes ).concat
 
-  slotProof.setLen(self.datasetDepth) # zero pad inputs to correct size
-
+  doAssert(slotProof.len == self.datasetDepth)
   # arrays are always flattened
   if ctx.pushInputU256Array(
     "slotProof".cstring,
@@ -128,16 +152,14 @@ proc prove*[H](
   for s in input.samples:
     var
       merklePaths = s.merklePaths.mapIt( it.toBytes )
-      data = s.cellData
+      data = s.cellData.mapIt( @(it.toBytes) ).concat
 
-    merklePaths.setLen(self.slotDepth) # zero pad inputs to correct size
     if ctx.pushInputU256Array(
       "merklePaths".cstring,
       merklePaths[0].addr,
       uint (merklePaths[0].len * merklePaths.len)) != ERR_OK:
         return failure("Failed to push merkle paths")
 
-    data.setLen(self.cellElms * 32) # zero pad inputs to correct size
     if ctx.pushInputU256Array(
       "cellData".cstring,
       data[0].addr,
@@ -162,6 +184,12 @@ proc prove*[H](
 
   success proof
 
+proc prove*[H](
+  self: CircomCompat,
+  input: ProofInputs[H]): ?!CircomProof =
+
+  self.prove(self.normalizeInput(input))
+
 proc verify*[H](
   self: CircomCompat,
   proof: CircomProof,
diff --git a/codex/slots/sampler/sampler.nim b/codex/slots/sampler/sampler.nim
index d22121c20..3270d55a5 100644
--- a/codex/slots/sampler/sampler.nim
+++ b/codex/slots/sampler/sampler.nim
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ type
 func getCell*[T, H](
   self: DataSampler[T, H],
   blkBytes: seq[byte],
-  blkCellIdx: Natural): seq[byte] =
+  blkCellIdx: Natural): seq[H] =
 
   let
     cellSize = self.builder.cellSize.uint64
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func getCell*[T, H](
 
   doAssert (dataEnd - dataStart) == cellSize, "Invalid cell size"
 
-  toInputData[H](blkBytes[dataStart ..< dataEnd])
+  blkBytes[dataStart ..< dataEnd].elements(H).toSeq()
 
 proc getSample*[T, H](
   self: DataSampler[T, H],
diff --git a/codex/slots/sampler/utils.nim b/codex/slots/sampler/utils.nim
index fa68e408b..998f2cdcc 100644
--- a/codex/slots/sampler/utils.nim
+++ b/codex/slots/sampler/utils.nim
@@ -7,23 +7,13 @@
 ## This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed except according to
 ## those terms.
 
-import std/sugar
 import std/bitops
-import std/sequtils
 
 import pkg/questionable/results
-import pkg/poseidon2
-import pkg/poseidon2/io
-
 import pkg/constantine/math/arithmetic
 
-import pkg/constantine/math/io/io_fields
-
 import ../../merkletree
 
-func toInputData*[H](data: seq[byte]): seq[byte] =
-  return toSeq(data.elements(H)).mapIt( @(it.toBytes) ).concat
-
 func extractLowBits*[n: static int](elm: BigInt[n], k: int): uint64 =
   doAssert( k > 0 and k <= 64 )
   var r  = 0'u64
@@ -39,6 +29,7 @@ func extractLowBits(fld: Poseidon2Hash, k: int): uint64 =
   return extractLowBits(elm, k);
 
 func floorLog2*(x : int) : int =
+  doAssert ( x > 0 )
   var k = -1
   var y = x
   while (y > 0):
@@ -47,10 +38,8 @@ func floorLog2*(x : int) : int =
   return k
 
 func ceilingLog2*(x : int) : int =
-  if (x == 0):
-    return -1
-  else:
-    return (floorLog2(x-1) + 1)
+  doAssert ( x > 0 )
+  return (floorLog2(x - 1) + 1)
 
 func toBlkInSlot*(cell: Natural, numCells: Natural): Natural =
   let log2 = ceilingLog2(numCells)
@@ -80,7 +69,7 @@ func cellIndices*(
   numCells: Natural, nSamples: Natural): seq[Natural] =
 
   var indices: seq[Natural]
-  while (indices.len < nSamples):
-    let idx = cellIndex(entropy, slotRoot, numCells, indices.len + 1)
-    indices.add(idx.Natural)
+  for i in 1..nSamples:
+    indices.add(cellIndex(entropy, slotRoot, numCells, i))
+
   indices
diff --git a/codex/slots/types.nim b/codex/slots/types.nim
index 04690adca..8703086e2 100644
--- a/codex/slots/types.nim
+++ b/codex/slots/types.nim
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 type
   Sample*[H] = object
-    cellData*: seq[byte]
+    cellData*: seq[H]
     merklePaths*: seq[H]
 
   PublicInputs*[H] = object
@@ -24,5 +24,5 @@ type
     slotRoot*: H
     nCellsPerSlot*: Natural
     nSlotsPerDataSet*: Natural
-    slotProof*: seq[H]
-    samples*: seq[Sample[H]]
+    slotProof*: seq[H]       # inclusion proof that shows that the slot root (leaf) is part of the dataset (root)
+    samples*: seq[Sample[H]] # inclusion proofs which show that the selected cells (leafs) are part of the slot (roots)
diff --git a/tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.r1cs b/tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.r1cs
index a2b9c6b7c..8b58ffa82 100644
Binary files a/tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.r1cs and b/tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.r1cs differ
diff --git a/tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.wasm b/tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.wasm
index 30fe6f0e8..f908d4f75 100644
Binary files a/tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.wasm and b/tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.wasm differ
diff --git a/tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.zkey b/tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.zkey
index 999a12abb..e4b889e91 100644
Binary files a/tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.zkey and b/tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.zkey differ
diff --git a/tests/codex/slots/backends/helpers.nim b/tests/codex/slots/backends/helpers.nim
index e81762cf6..85e8ae65f 100644
--- a/tests/codex/slots/backends/helpers.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/slots/backends/helpers.nim
@@ -17,21 +17,6 @@ import pkg/codex/utils/json
 
 export types
 
-func fromCircomData*(_: type Poseidon2Hash, cellData: seq[byte]): seq[Poseidon2Hash] =
-  var
-    pos = 0
-    cellElms: seq[Bn254Fr]
-  while pos < cellData.len:
-    var
-      step = 32
-      offset = min(pos + step, cellData.len)
-      data = cellData[pos..<offset]
-    let ff = Bn254Fr.fromBytes(data.toArray32).get
-    cellElms.add(ff)
-    pos += data.len
-
-  cellElms
-
 func toJsonDecimal*(big: BigInt[254]): string =
   let s = big.toDecimal.strip( leading = true, trailing = false, chars = {'0'} )
   if s.len == 0: "0" else: s
@@ -78,13 +63,16 @@ func toJson*(input: ProofInputs[Poseidon2Hash]): JsonNode =
     "slotRoot": input.slotRoot.toDecimal,
     "slotProof": input.slotProof.mapIt( it.toBig.toJsonDecimal ),
     "cellData": input.samples.mapIt(
-      toSeq( it.cellData.elements(Poseidon2Hash) ).mapIt( it.toBig.toJsonDecimal )
+      it.cellData.mapIt( it.toBig.toJsonDecimal )
     ),
     "merklePaths": input.samples.mapIt(
       it.merklePaths.mapIt( it.toBig.toJsonDecimal )
     )
   }
 
+func toJson*(input: NormalizedProofInputs[Poseidon2Hash]): JsonNode =
+  toJson(ProofInputs[Poseidon2Hash](input))
+
 func jsonToProofInput*(_: type Poseidon2Hash, inputJson: JsonNode): ProofInputs[Poseidon2Hash] =
   let
     cellData =
@@ -93,10 +81,12 @@ func jsonToProofInput*(_: type Poseidon2Hash, inputJson: JsonNode): ProofInputs[
             block:
               var
                 big: BigInt[256]
-                data = newSeq[byte](big.bits div 8)
+                hash: Poseidon2Hash
+                data: array[32, byte]
               assert bool(big.fromDecimal( it.str ))
-              data.marshal(big, littleEndian)
-              data
+              assert data.marshal(big, littleEndian)
+
+              Poseidon2Hash.fromBytes(data).get
           ).concat # flatten out elements
         )
 
diff --git a/tests/codex/slots/sampler/testsampler.nim b/tests/codex/slots/sampler/testsampler.nim
index a40894099..01855c27d 100644
--- a/tests/codex/slots/sampler/testsampler.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/slots/sampler/testsampler.nim
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ suite "Test Sampler - control samples":
           proofInput.nCellsPerSlot,
           sample.merklePaths[5..<9]).tryGet
 
-        cellData = Poseidon2Hash.fromCircomData(sample.cellData)
+        cellData = sample.cellData
         cellLeaf = Poseidon2Hash.spongeDigest(cellData, rate = 2).tryGet
         slotLeaf = cellProof.reconstructRoot(cellLeaf).tryGet
 
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ suite "Test Sampler":
           nSlotCells,
           sample.merklePaths[5..<sample.merklePaths.len]).tryGet
 
-        cellData = Poseidon2Hash.fromCircomData(sample.cellData)
+        cellData = sample.cellData
         cellLeaf = Poseidon2Hash.spongeDigest(cellData, rate = 2).tryGet
         slotLeaf = cellProof.reconstructRoot(cellLeaf).tryGet
 
diff --git a/tests/codex/slots/testprover.nim b/tests/codex/slots/testprover.nim
index 179047f38..6acc8602a 100644
--- a/tests/codex/slots/testprover.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/slots/testprover.nim
@@ -24,23 +24,19 @@ import ./backends/helpers
 
 suite "Test Prover":
   let
-    slotId = 1
     samples = 5
-    ecK = 3
-    ecM = 2
-    numDatasetBlocks = 8
     blockSize = DefaultBlockSize
     cellSize = DefaultCellSize
     repoTmp = TempLevelDb.new()
     metaTmp = TempLevelDb.new()
+    r1cs = "tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.r1cs"
+    wasm = "tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.wasm"
+    circomBackend = CircomCompat.init(r1cs, wasm)
+    challenge = 1234567.toF.toBytes.toArray32
 
   var
-    datasetBlocks: seq[bt.Block]
     store: BlockStore
-    manifest: Manifest
-    protected: Manifest
-    verifiable: Manifest
-    sampler: Poseidon2Sampler
+    prover: Prover
 
   setup:
     let
@@ -48,28 +44,49 @@ suite "Test Prover":
       metaDs = metaTmp.newDb()
 
     store = RepoStore.new(repoDs, metaDs)
+    prover = Prover.new(store, circomBackend, samples)
 
-    (manifest, protected, verifiable) =
+  teardown:
+    await repoTmp.destroyDb()
+    await metaTmp.destroyDb()
+
+  test "Should sample and prove a slot":
+    let
+      (_, _, verifiable) =
         await createVerifiableManifest(
           store,
-          numDatasetBlocks,
-          ecK, ecM,
+          8, # number of blocks in the original dataset (before EC)
+          5, # ecK
+          3, # ecM
           blockSize,
           cellSize)
 
-  teardown:
-    await repoTmp.destroyDb()
-    await metaTmp.destroyDb()
+    let
+      (inputs, proof) = (
+        await prover.prove(1, verifiable, challenge)).tryGet
 
-  test "Should sample and prove a slot":
+    check:
+      (await prover.verify(proof, inputs)).tryGet == true
+
+  test "Should generate valid proofs when slots consist of single blocks":
+
+    # To get single-block slots, we just need to set the number of blocks in
+    # the original dataset to be the same as ecK. The total number of blocks
+    # after generating random data for parity will be ecK + ecM, which will
+    # match the number of slots.
     let
-      r1cs = "tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.r1cs"
-      wasm = "tests/circuits/fixtures/proof_main.wasm"
+      (_, _, verifiable) =
+        await createVerifiableManifest(
+          store,
+          2, # number of blocks in the original dataset (before EC)
+          2, # ecK
+          1, # ecM
+          blockSize,
+          cellSize)
 
-      circomBackend = CircomCompat.init(r1cs, wasm)
-      prover = Prover.new(store, circomBackend, samples)
-      challenge = 1234567.toF.toBytes.toArray32
-      (inputs, proof) = (await prover.prove(1, verifiable, challenge)).tryGet
+    let
+      (inputs, proof) = (
+        await prover.prove(1, verifiable, challenge)).tryGet
 
     check:
       (await prover.verify(proof, inputs)).tryGet == true
diff --git a/vendor/codex-contracts-eth b/vendor/codex-contracts-eth
index 57e8cd501..7ad26688a 160000
--- a/vendor/codex-contracts-eth
+++ b/vendor/codex-contracts-eth
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 57e8cd5013325f05e16833a5320b575d32a403f3
+Subproject commit 7ad26688a3b75b914d626e2623174a36f4425f51