Watch us rise to challenge – boss

DEAN KELLY . . . in contention to play tomorrow following some bustling displays for Athletic.

ATHLETIC are aiming high for their big test at Southampton tomorrow.

Given the size of Saints as a club, the fixture at St Mary's was one many Athletic fans will have looked for when the fixture list first was released in June.

Back then, it was hard for anyone to see past Southampton as potential npower League One champions in 2010-11.

But with a series of poor results and a change of manager already, things haven't gone anywhere near to plan at the south coast club.

Athletic manager Paul Dickov knows what it is like to play under fans expecting major success.

And he sees no reason why the visitors can't add to the woes of Saints and their boss Nigel Adkins by picking up another three points on the road.

"It is about expectations," Dickov said. "I have been there before in this division with Manchester City. It is everybody else's cup final.

"They are a good team, who play good football at a high tempo. Since Nigel has come in, they have picked up their results and now look like a team that are favourites to go up.

"They will come out of the blocks very fast at home and want to get the crowd behind them.

"But we feel if we play like we can we can go there and win."

Athletic triumphed in their last away trip, with an open encounter at Brentford ending in a 3-1 victory featuring some excellent football.

With space to play in — as opposed to often cramped conditions imposed by opposing teams at Boundary Park — Dickov feels his side can express themselves.

"We have played better away from home recently," said the Athletic manager.

"It is credit to ourselves that teams are coming here, even a team like Colchester last week, to get behind the ball and make it hard for us.”

Andy Holdsworth has a knock on his shin which rules him out of the journey south.

And it remains to be seen if Northern Ireland international striker Warren Feeney can get a look-in other than a place on the substitutes' bench given the impressive form of Chris Taylor, Oumare Tounkara and the bustling Dean Kelly.

"Competition for places is great and the lads' attitudes are excellent even when not playing," Dickov said.

Athletic: Brill, Mvoto, Hazell, Black, Jarrett, Evina, Lee, Christophe, Jones, Furman, Alessandra, Stephens, Taylor, Ollerenshaw, Tounkara, Feeney, Kelly, Dickov, Brooke, Gerrard.