VIRGIL van Dijk is relishing the chance to shackle Everton’s prolific marksman Romelu Lukaku on Saturday as Saints head into five “must win” games in their charge for Europe on the Premier League’s home straight.

Back in August and prior to van Dijk’s £13m move from Celtic on last summer’s transfer deadline day, sharpshooter Lukaku ripped apart Saints’ defence, scoring a brace in a deflating 3-0 defeat at St Mary’s.

The Dutchman, who has had an outstanding first campaign on the south coast and is statistically one of the best defenders in Europe, is now primed to silence the fearsome Belgian – and the Toffees’ top-scorer –ahead of 7th-placed Saints’ trip to Goodison Park on Saturday, which is the first of five crucial remaining league matches in their mission to qualify for the Europa League.

“Oh yes, it’s always good to come up against good strikers,” said the giant 6ft4inch centre-back with a smile, when asked if he’s looking forward to the challenge that Lukaku poses.

“That’s what I want and he wants to come up against good defenders to match him.

“I just want to do well and make sure he doesn’t score and make sure we keep a clean sheet.”

The 24-year-old says he must be at his most focused to silence the former Chelsea man.

“I have seen what he can do,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of games of him already and he’s a good striker. He’s going pretty well this season, so I need to make sure I’m ready.

“He’s strong, very athletic, he can finish with his left and right and he’s just a dangerous striker.

“He can jump, hold the ball and he has good link-up with (Gerard) Deulofeu. They’re very dangerous.”

With five massive games left there is so much to play for with Ronald Koeman’s side taking aim for another record breaking season and a European finish for a second successive season.

The softly spoken centre-back, who is certainly a contender for Saints’ Player of the Season after what has been an excellent first term at the club, says the team believes they will qualify for continental competition.

The Europa League seems more viable but, the Champions League is still far from out the picture mathematically.

Saints are seven points behind 4th-place Manchester City with 15 points to play for.

“The last five games we approach everything as a must win game if you’re going to go to Europe,” he said. “It starts on Saturday.

“In the end it’s only five beautiful games to play, then you can only achieve good things and we want to do it. We’re going to prepare and be ready.

“We just want to reach Europe and hopefully do better than last year.”