Saints midfielder Rory Delap believes that his side could go through this season unbeaten at home.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder, who has been on top form in recent weeks, is keen not to set it as a target for his teammates but still thinks that it can be done.

He said: "It's going extremely well at the moment but I think there's more to come - there's a little bit to our game that everyone knows could be better.

"We are confident. We're unbeaten at home and I don't think anyone will be overawed so we want to carry that through the whole season and I think that's possible.

"It would be nice to do it and you need to aim for things like that.

"I'm not setting it as a goal or anything but it would be a nice thing to accomplish - especially after last season when the fans were worried about the home form.

"We have turned it around completely now but we also need to keep the away results going."

The last time Saints went through an entire season unbeaten at home was 1921/22 during their days in Division Three South but Delap can pinpoint areas that still need improving.

"We are relying on Beatts to score," he said. "You tend to think he's going to score every game and if we keep a clean sheet you will win.

"But he's not going to score goals in every game so the other lads need to chip in and help him out."

Speaking of the striker's England prospects, he added: "I think it's bound to come to him whether it's the next game or in a year's time - I don't think he's got to worry about that.

"It's up to Mr Eriksson but you've never got to worry about Beatts letting anyone down."

Today's challenge in the bid to remain unbeaten at St Mary's is a tricky match against Newcastle who have Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy back after their midweek bans kept them out of the 3-1 Champions League defeat at Barcelona.

"It's always going to be a tough game," said Delap. "It would have been nice if they'd had to miss this game!

"It was a tough game up there - Beatts got a great goal to set us off but it didn't happen that day.

"But we've got no one to be scared of. This year we've done it against all the top teams and we've got to go out and get the three points."

In modern times, Saints lost just twice at home in the league in 1983/84 when they finished runners-up to First Division champions Liverpool.

They also lost just twice in 1980/81, 1978/79 and 1977/78.!