SAINTS' mouthwatering FA Cup quarter-final with Manchester United will earn the club a near £500,000 windfall after being selected for live screening on BBC 1.

The sixth round tie, which will see Saints aiming to become the first team to score against United in the FA Cup this season, will take place on Saturday, March 12 (5.15pm).

Each club will receive £265,000 for the game being screened live while the winners will be guaranteed at least £300,000 in prize money. The losers will net £120,000.

Add to that 45 per cent of gate receipts of what is sure to be a sell out St Mary's crowd.

The match is being priced as a gold game and tickets went on sale to season ticket holders today. They have from now until 5pm on Sunday, March 6 to claim their own seats.

To provide United with their permitted 15 per cent allocation, all the Saints season ticket holders sat in block 42 and some sat in block 41 will be moved.

Members who attended the Brentford home fixture can buy from Monday, March 7 until 7pm the following day.

Members who did not attend the home tie with Brentford can buy from 9am on Wednesday, March 9. Season ticket holders can buy extra seats on Thursday, March 10.

The ticket office has extended opening hours to help manage the demand.

It will open at St Mary's on weekdays 9am-7pm, Saturday, March 5, 9am-7pm, Sunday, March 6, 9am-5pm.

These hours will revert to normal once the game has sold out.

Telephone sales (0870 220 0150) will take place on weekdays as normal, 8.30am-7pm, Saturday, March 5, 9am-5pm, Sunday, March 6, 9am-5pm.

Internet bookings are available at all time and Saints recommend booking this way. There is no booking fee online.