For Josh Dutton-Black, this week could be one of the most memorable of his life.

The 18-year-old winger has agreed a new contract that will keep him at Saints until June 2008.

Now he stands on the threshold of his first major piece of silverware.

Dutton-Black, who has played 12 times for the reserves this season to catch the eye of George Burley (pictured right), is a shoe-in to start for the academy side in their play-off final against Aston Villa at St Mary's tonight.

A victory would round the week off nicely.

He said: "I was delighted to be offered an extension to my contract and it is all sorted now.

"I was told the manager has been impressed with my performances for the reserves and wanted to extend my deal and I was very happy to do that.

"It's a big confidence boost and it gives me an extra year to try and force my way into the first-team.

"The aim now is to have a really good pre-season and try to get myself involved in a couple of the first team friendlies.

"First, though, we have the play-off final which will be a big occasion for all the lads.

"It should be a cracking game.

"We beat Villa 4-0 in the league but it was much tougher when we played them in the FA Youth Cup and just edged a really

good contest 1-0.

"We are all on a high after beating Blackburn 4-0 and now we need to take that form into the Villa game."

With free admission at St Mary's tonight, Dutton-Black is hoping for a bumper crowd - like the near 10,000 that turned out for the FA Youth Cup semi-final against Liverpool in March.

Back then, Saints lost a thrilling two-leg tie on penalties to the eventual winners.

"It was a great match to watch and to play in. It had everything and it was a great thrill to play in front of such a big crowd," said the player who joined Saints two years ago after being released by Oxford.

"Hopefully they will all turn out again and help us to win this one.

"It was a big disappointment to lose that semi-final but we have bounced back well and shown we still have a great team.

"The FA Youth Cup is a one-off but this is the culmination of a whole season and it will be a big achievement if we can win."