SAINTS welcome Aston Villa to St Mary’s today looking to restore some pride in front of a home crowd still reeling from a dreadful league campaign.

With just seven games to go, interim boss Simon Rusk will be keen to see a response from his players following confirmation of relegation.

Rusk has hinted at making confidence more important than identity and style, and made keeping a clean sheet in the match his first priority. 

Unai Emery's Aston Villa, meanwhile, arrive on the south coast in the middle of a two-legged Champions League quarter-final clash with PSG.

Here is how we think Rusk could line up his side to take on the Villans...

Formation: (5-3-2).

Goalkeeper

Aaron Ramsdale probably has seven games left as a Saints player so we should enjoy them while they last; he's a pretty good keeper.

Defenders

Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens feel like Rusk all over and he will likely call on the trio to create a solid base.

Kyle Walker-Peters, set to leave Saints this summer, and Ryan Manning could be tasked with flanking the three in a back five. 

Midfielders

Flynn Downes is still suspended after picking up 10 bookings but Lesley Ugochukwu will be the first midfielder on Rusk's team sheet.

Joe Aribo will likely partner the Frenchman, while Mateus Fernandes could play in the number eight or 10 position to add a creative spark. 

Attackers

Cameron Archer was the only player to score for Rusk in his previous interim period and will likely keep his place to face his former side.

Paul Onuachu should start if he is passed fit, offering Saints an outlet and, as a bigger man, giving little man Archer something to play off.

Full predicted team

Ramsdale; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens, Manning; Ugochukwu, Aribo, Fernandes; Archer, Onuachu.