Saints under-21s boss Martin Hunter is hoping to take his side a step closer to glory this evening.

Hunter’s charges face Blackburn at Ewood Park in the first leg of the Premier League Cup final, with the return fixture a week today at St Mary’s.

The under-21s go into the game on the back of a disappointing defeat at Sunderland but keen to get off to good start this evening.

Hunter, pictured below, said: “Everybody’s chomping at the bit really. Training’s gone well after Monday – we’ve put that to bed – and everybody’s delighted and looking forward to the two-legged final.

“We’re expecting a very tough contest. They’re a very well-organised team.

“I noticed that four of their players that have been involved were on the bench (on Wednesday night against Liverpool) in the FA Cup – three of them play regularly – and we know how resilient and hard-working they are, so we need to be ready for that.

“They’ve got some good young players. I’ve known the coach there for years, he’s a very committed and passionate man, so we need to be beginning with all guns blazing really.

“It’s good in terms of you’re judged over two games, so the best teams will win when the two performances are done and dusted.”

The Saints side is expected to feature the likes of Jason McCarthy, Ryan Seager and Sam Gallagher, who all have first team experience.

Hunter admits playing the second leg at St Mary’s could be useful for his side, but knows they must get set it up tonight.

“It’s an advantage, I don’t think it’s a big advantage. Yes, it’s always good to play the second leg at home, but playing at Ewood Park will not be easy, and the players understand that,” he reckoned.

On being in different leagues he added: “I think it’s totally irrelevant. They’ve won four ties to get to the final, so they’re there on merit.

“The league form, we don’t look at that, we look at the sorts of players they’ve got, the system of play that they’ve got, and ready to combat what they throw at us and play our style of football.

“We’ve talked about that – we need a really positive reaction from all the players, and hopefully we’ll get that on Monday evening.”

Centre half Will Wood added: “Hopefully we can get a result away which will make it easier at home. If we don’t then we know that we can play well at St Mary’s, I don’t think there’s been a game when we haven’t played well at St Mary’s – so I’m looking forward to it.

“I think the form goes out of the window, I think it’s all sort of smash and grab really, but hopefully we can play our stuff and hopefully win the final.

“I think we’ll try and focus on what we’ve got to do in the first game, and then obviously in the second one it’s just what comes really, I suppose.”