Chris Perry is aiming to keep Saints in the Championship - and in the process take a step towards a "mouthwatering" permanent move to St Mary's.

The 34-year-old centre half has joined on-loan until the end of the season from League One strugglers Luton.

He will go straight into the squad for tomorrow's trip to FA Cup semi-finalists Cardiff City.

The Hatters said they were reluctantly prepared to offload him due to their well-documented financial troubles after going into administration earlier this season and having 10 points deducted.

Perry will provide Nigel Pearson with much needed cover at centre half with injuries to Andrew Davies and Claus Lundekvam meaning he has been left with just Darren Powell and Wayne Thomas in the heart of the defence.

For Perry it is a chance to play in the Championship again following his release last summer by West Bromwich Albion, where he worked with Pearson in 2006/07.

Though he turns 35 next month, Perry - who once joined Spurs for £4m from Wimbledon in 1999 - is aiming to prove himself once more.

He said: "It's been an experience at Luton this season - not a nice one, not one that I'd like to repeat again.

"I jumped at the chance to come here because it's the chance to play at Championship level again, which is where I believe I should be playing.

"It's a chance for me to show what I can do.

"I've got six games, I've got to try my best and if I can do well we'll see what happens in the summer.

"My aim coming here is first and foremost to keep Southampton in this league for next season and show what I can do.

"If I can play to my full potential then the chance of a move would be very mouthwatering for me."

Perry, who will probably replace Powell tomorrow, has a wealth of experience that includes over 500 career appearances.

He made his name at Wimbledon where he started his career in 1991 before the multi-million move to White Hart Lane eight years later.

Perry later went on to play for Charlton and West Brom, whom he joined in the summer of 2006 when Pearson was assistant to Bryan Robson.

Perry played in all three of the Baggies' play-off games last May, but was then released.

He joined Luton last summer and has started 35 of their 39 League One games.

"This is probably the toughest league in the world," he said of the Championship.

"Every team is capable of beating everyone else and we have some hard games.

"But we are capable of going out and winning them."

Full story, and other Cardiff v Saints previews, in today's Daily Echo.