ALEX McCarthy has urged Saints to thrive under the pressure of their Premier League relegation scrap.

The goalkeeper knows that tomorrow’s six-pointer against Stoke at St Mary’s is massive for their survival hopes and wants his team-mates to rise to the occasion.

“The next game against Stoke has a lot of pressure involved. It's very tight from the middle of the table down to the bottom,” he said.

“Being a game at home it’s one we have to win. The games are running out now, so we need to be picking up as many points as possible.

“We know we’ve got a tough job on our hands, but with the squad we’ve got here I know we’ll have enough to get out of it.

“It's a massive game, everybody knows that and hopefully we get three points.

“Every game that we have between now and the end of the season, every game is going to be in the spotlight.”

Saints are currently out of the relegation zone on goal difference alone heading into the clash with the Potters, who are a point behind Mauricio Pellegrino’s men.

“It’s a place that nobody at the club wants to be in and we need a win at the weekend to get out of that,” said McCarthy.

“It’s a pressure we’ve got to do deal with. It’s massive and we must take as many points as possible over the next few fixtures.

“There are not three teams that are done and dusted.

“We’ve seen Swansea get some momentum together and working their way up the table.

“I’m pretty sure we can do the same. We’ve got some very winnable games coming up and if we get points there it gives us the best opportunity.”

This interview was done in conjunction with Sure, who are an official partner of Southampton FC. Join the conversation on Twitter @Sure and Instagram @SureFootball #NeverMoreSure