Newcastle United will look to significantly boost their Premier League survival chances when they host fellow strugglers Southampton in a potentially season-defining clash for both clubs at St James' Park on Saturday.

The Magpies missed the chance to increase the gap between them and the relegation zone when they surrendered a two-goal lead in the last 10 minutes to draw 2-2 with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium last month, and they followed that up with a 2-0 defeat against a free-scoring Liverpool side at Anfield last weekend.

That result left the Tyneside outfit two points above the bottom three, and they remain in real danger of suffering an immediate return to the Championship as they lie just two points above both 18th-placed Crystal Palace and 19th-placed Stoke City, with their fans believing this is the first of two fixtures that will decide their fate.

Their opponents this weekend are one point above those two clubs and one point adrift of Rafa Benitez's side, and the Spaniard will certainly take some solace from the fact that the south coast outfit have only won two of their 13 top flight matches on the road during the current campaign.

Newcastle do have the third worst record on their own turf this term though, and Benitez will know that they need to improve that and start picking up wins if they are to stay up, with a draw at home to Saints not really good enough.

The 57-year-old Toon boss went with an unfamiliar 5-4-1 system at Anfield last weekend, and the former Liverpool chief will likely revert to one of his more popular formations for this fixture.

Benitez made three changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Bournemouth for the game against Liverpool last time out, and he will be considering making some more against Saints in what is such an important clash.

Here is how Newcastle must line up against Southampton on Saturday, ahead of Martin Dubravka in goal…

Defence

Aside from when he went with three central defenders and two wing-backs at Anfield last weekend, Benitez has had a relatively settled back four of DeAndre Yedlin, captain Jamaal Lascelles, Florian Lejeune and Paul Dummett in recent weeks, and there is no reason why they won't be the quartet that lines up against Southampton.

Their Spanish boss should revert to a more familiar four-man defence for the visit of Saints in what is a such a huge six-pointer for both clubs, and the 57-year-old will be hoping that as well as being a leader at the back, Lascelles can try and add to his tally of three Premier League goals this season with the team as a whole only netting 27 in their 29 top flight fixtures.

Midfield

Kenedy and Yedlin lined up as wing-backs against Liverpool with Mo Diame and Mikel Merino – in for the injured Jonjo Shelvey – in the middle of the park, and Benitez should look to change things up for the visit of Southampton.

Kenedy was a little bit anonymous at Anfield and was criticised by the fans for his display, but if his Spanish manager reverts back to a four-man midfield, then he should start on the left because of his defensive and attacking abilities.

Meanwhile, Matt Ritchie should come in on the right to replace Christian Atsu – who played on that wing last weekend – with the Scotland international scoring the winning goal against Manchester United at St James' Park last month.

Diame is pretty much undroppable in the middle right now and if Shelvey is 100% fit – he was pictured back in training on Thursday – he must replace Merino.

Attack

Benitez played Atsu and Jacob Murphy on the wings and Dwight Gayle up top on his own at Anfield, and it is no surprise that they didn't really threaten too much in the final third.

The Spanish boss needs to be more attacking at home against Southampton this weekend, and while Joselu hasn't always been a favourite among the St James' Park faithful, he could be the man they need in the starting XI against the south coast outfit.

While Saints centre-backs Wesley Hoedt and Jack Stephens are decent with the ball at their feet, they have sometimes struggled aerially meaning the 6ft 4in Joselu could cause them big problems, playing alongside Gayle who has hit some goalscoring form.

Do you agree, Magpies fans? Let us know below.