Poortvliet to field his first team (From Daily Echo)

Poortvliet to field his first team

7:00am Friday 1st August 2008 in

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Saints fans will get their first proper glimpse of Jan Poortvliet's new look Saints for the forthcoming Championship season when they take on West Ham at St Mary's tonight.

Head coach Poortvliet has said he will treat the game as if it were next weekend's opener at Cardiff, fielding his first team and only making substitutions to effect the game rather than for fitness.

Poortvliet is hoping to see the same resolute steel his team have shown in defence so far this season - but wants an extra cutting edge in attack.

In the three recognised first team pre-season friendlies against Celtic, Cheltenham and Hereford, Saints have scored just once - in the 1-1 draw at Cheltenham - through Bradley Wright-Phillips.

Poortvliet thinks that will change when the forward players start to believe in themselves.

And he is optimistic that can happen against Premiership opposition tonight.

He said: "We will go out to make a big game and we shall see.

"When we make a substitution it will be to try and make the team better.

"Until now we have had to have everyone play because I have to see everyone.

"This game we will treat like a Championship game. Whatever the game needs, we will bring people on.

"A lot of people need the 90 minutes, they are well prepared and have had some good games - now have to go out for as long as possible.

Full story in today's Daily Echo