Southampton will look to stay out of the relegation zone and boost their survival chances when they host fellow strugglers Stoke City at St Mary's on Saturday.

The Saints came out of the bottom three as Manolo Gabbiadini's late equaliser saw them snatch a 1-1 draw against Burnley at Turf Moor last weekend, but they are only out of the drop zone on goal difference and just one point above their next opponents on the south coast, who lie 19th.

With three straight away matches to follow the clash against the Potters, Mauricio Pellegrino's men are in desperate need of taking all three points against Paul Lambert's visitors, but it won't be an easy task seeing as they are without a win in the top flight on their own patch since November, and have already failed to beat fellow strugglers Swansea City, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Huddersfield Town and Brighton and Hove Albion at home.

Pellegrino will know can't afford a repeat of that this weekend if they are to secure their Premier League status for another year, and they can take some solace from the fact that Stoke have the worst away record in the top flight with just seven points from 14 fixtures.

The Argentine boss made one change from the FA Cup win against West Bromwich Albion for the trip to Lancashire last time out as Oriol Romeu came in for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and he will perhaps be considering making more against the Potters after another below-par display from his team.

Here is how Southampton must line up against Stoke on Saturday, ahead of Alex McCarthy in goal…

Defence

If they are all fit, Southampton's back four picks itself right now in the form of stand-in captain Ryan Bertrand, Wesley Hoedt, Jack Stephens and Cedric Soares.

With Maya Yoshida injured and Sam McQueen and Jeremy Pied considered back-ups in the full-back positions, the quartet have had a real good run of games together and that should continue against Stoke this weekend.

Both Stephens and Hoedt have been in the goals in the past few weeks and they will hope to provide a goal threat against the Potters too to try and help their side pick up a vital three points.

Midfield

Oriol Romeu returned to the starting line-up against Burnley having been left on the substitutes' bench in the FA Cup tie against West Bromwich Albion because he is only one booking away from getting an automatic two-match ban.

The Spaniard has looked miles off the player that won the club;s Player of the Season award last season, and he has often appeared lethargic and off the pace – including at Turf Moor last weekend.

Southampton can't afford to have that in a crucial clash against Stoke on Saturday, and they should bring the energetic Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg into the midfield alongside Mario Lemina to try and help them get the win they desperately need.

Attack

Josh Sims and Manolo Gabbiadini both made a big impact from the substitutes' bench against Burnley last weekend, and they should both be in line to start against Stoke this Saturday.

While James Ward-Prowse has been useful from set pieces and in terms of getting goals at times in 2018, he still doesn't offer enough from open play from an attacking sense, and Saints need to be more aggressive on their own patch to get results.

Sims and Nathan Redmond should start on the flanks for Southampton to provide that pace and directness, and Gabbiadini should be handed the role just behind Guido Carrillo with Dusan Tadic another player that has failed to do enough to invigorate Mauricio Pellegrino's men on their own turf this season.

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