The show goes on for Southampton when play-off hopefuls Burnley arrive at St Mary's on Saturday.
Burnley bid to secure top-six spot against condemned Saints
The show goes on for Southampton when Championship play-off hopefuls Burnley arrive at St Mary's on Saturday.
Southampton were effectively relegated on Thursday after being hit by a 10-point penalty for breaking Football League insolvency regulations.
With two games remaining, the fine means the Saints will be playing in League One next season, regardless of whether they finish the current campaign outside the drop zone.
And Burnley, who currently sit in sixth position, will hope to pile more misery on Mark Wotte's men as they bid to secure a play-off place.
Saints team news
Southampton are likely to name an unchanged squad as they attempt to avoid starting next season on minus 10.
Midfielders Simon Gillett (knee) and Anthony Pulis (foot), player-coach Michael Svensson (Achilles) and strikers Jamie White (ankle) and Matt Paterson (broken nose) are still missing.
Centre-half Wayne Thomas played for 45 minutes for the reserves in midweek having missed most of the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury, but he will not be risked.
Winger Lee Holmes also played for the second string as he builds up his match fitness from a knee injury.
Burnley update
Burnley manager Owen Coyle will assess the fitness of striker Steven Thompson ahead of the trip to the South Coast.
The summer signing from Cardiff has missed the Clarets' last six games after sustaining ankle ligament damage against Nottingham Forest on 14th March.
His recovery is progressing well but Coyle will not gamble on Thompson's fitness.
Martin Paterson has been affected by hamstring trouble in recent weeks but he played 86 minutes and scored the winning goal in Monday's vital 1-0 victory over Sheffield United.
Coyle should have no other concerns as his small squad seek to record the victory that would secure their place in the top six.
