Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert could be tempted to hand summer signing Christian Benteke his first Premier League start against Saints tomorrow, following the striker's goalscoring cameo last week.

The Belgium international came off the bench to net the second in Villa's 2-0 win over Swansea and is vying for a place alongside Darren Bent at St Mary's.

Lambert has Chris Herd and Fabian Delph available after injuries but Marc Albrighton (foot) is not quite ready and Richard Dunne (groin) and Gary Gardner (ligaments) are long-term absentees.

Provisional squad: Given, Guzan, Lowton, Bennett, Lichaj, Clark, Vlaar, Baker, Herd, El Ahmadi, Westwood, Bannan, Ireland, Delph, Holman, N'Zogbia, Bent, Benteke, Agbonlahor, Bowery, Weimann, Burke, Johnson, Williams.