SAINTS keeper Paul Jones is preparing for "the two biggest games" of his life as Wales take on Russia for a place in the Euro 2004 finals.

Jones will be winning his 36th cap in the sub-zero temperatures of Moscow tomorrow.

He remains Mark Hughes' first choice shot-stopper despite recently losing his St Mary's place to the fit-again Antti Niemi.

The freezing Russian capital will be a far cry from the 'tropical' South Coast for Jones tomorrow evening (4pm GMT).

"I know our kit-man Tony Quaglia has sorted some warm clothes for us when we train out there," said Jones.

"We'll be wrapped-up in training but when it comes to the game I'll be very busy so I won't need thick clothes to keep me warm.

"It will probably be the coldest climate Ive played in but we'll have to knuckle down and get on with it.

"It will be a vast temperature difference from the tropical south coast as it has been 16 or 17 degrees centigrade in Southampton even in September and October! It's been very mild.

"And I must admit it was a big shock to the system when I went up to Bolton with Southampton as there was a big difference in temperature.

"It was freezing up there!"

Jones made his international entrance as a 30-year-old in May 1997, playing in a 1-0 victory against Scotland in a friendly at Kilmarnock.

Since then he has only missed one competitive match, the 3-2 defeat in a World Cup 1998 qualifier in Belgium five months after his debut.

But at 36, Jones is honest enough to admit this will be his last chance of playing in a major finals.

Hence the fact he could well quit St Mary's during the January transfer window if Wales qualify.

Former Dell boss Dave Jones, now at Wolves, remains favourite to sign his namesake for the third time if Paul Jones does decide to seek regular first-team football.

"These two legs against Russia will undoubtedly be the biggest two games of my career," he said.

"I played in FA Cup final for Southampton last year and that was superb and unforgettable.

"But qualifying for Euro 2004 with Wales would be a dream come true.

"This is massive for me. I haven't got many years left as a player, like one or two others in the Wales squad, so we've got to grab this opportunity with both hands.

"And it is a tie we feel we can win. I will have a busy afternoon in Moscow because Russia have a decent record at home, which got them into the play-offs.

"But if we play well we can keep them at bay.

"We defend well as a team now, starting from big John Hartson up front.

"We are difficult to break down and are certainly better defensively than previously as teams used to run straight through us."

Wales stumbled into the play-offs as they failed to win their final four games of Euro 2004 qualifying Group Nine following a record-equalling four-match winning start.

Jones added: "There won't be a hangover.

"We have done well to get to the play-offs but we must go again and give our all for two games.

"I have felt the excitement building to a crescendo in Wales during this qualification period.

"It was a pity we couldn't hold on to top spot of Group Nine but from day one we said the play-off was our realistic goal."