Steven Davis does not expect Saints to be taken lightly by Manchester United tomorrow.

The club’s impressive start to the season means they will arrive at Old Trafford five places and four points ahead of the Premier League’s defending champions.

Davis believes the match will represent Saints’ “biggest test”, but he also expects United to be wary of the threat Mauricio Pochettino's side can pose them.

“For us, I think it is a game to look forward to,” said the midfielder, who has started Saints’ last two matches – the 2-0 victories over Crystal Palace and Swansea.

“I am sure Man United won’t take us lightly after the start we’ve made. These are the stadiums you want to play at and the players you want to test yourself against.”

Davis added: “I think it is the biggest test. Every Premier League game is a test, because you’re coming up against top players, but I think coming up against Man United, obviously being champions, is a game we can look forward to.”

Saints lost 2-1 at United last season, but, on the evidence of their second-half display, Sir Alex Ferguson said they had been the best team to visit Old Trafford during the campaign.

Davis, the Northern Ireland captain, was brought on at half-time of that match, and he is hoping he and his colleagues can replicate that performance.

“Last year we went up to Old Trafford and came away feeling disappointed not to get a result,” he said.

“We played some really good stuff, especially in the second half, and we can take confidence from that and hopefully put in a similar performance and get a better result.”

And what would it say about Saints if they do that?

“I am sure it would send out a statement to a lot of teams, but we’re not getting carried away,” said the 28-year-old.

“We know where we are at this moment in time. We need to keep showing the same level of desire, hunger and quality. I know it is a bit of a cliché, but you've got to take it one game at a time.”

With United experiencing some teething problems under new manager David Moyes, there is a sense that this game could represent a real opportunity for Saints to get something.

But Davis doesn’t subscribe to the view that there is such a thing as a good time to play United.

“I don’t think so,” he said. “Obviously, they got a good result last time out against Sunderland. They will be looking to continue that form and get another win.

“It is a game we are looking forward to. We can go there, try to play the way we can, and if we do then we are more than capable of getting a result.”