MILLWALL manager Mark McGhee has warned good friend Gordon Strachan: "It's the worst possible time to be playing Wolves."

Dave Jones' side are looking likely to secure a place in the play-offs for the second year running after an excellent run of results.

And McGhee - whose Millwall team came within minutes of knocking Saints out in the fourth round - is predicting a close game for Strachan against the team he managed for three years between 1995 and 1998.

McGhee admitted: "Saints work ethic will make it very hard for Wolves.

"They are very well organised and in James Beattie they have a striker at the moment who is a great threat to anyone in the Premiership and certainly will be against Wolves.

"But I would certainly add a big note of caution to Gordon and he will know this - it is a bad time to be playing Wolves.

"They are better than us and we went a fair distance with Southampton. They are getting them at the worst possible time.

"Gordon got us at the worst time when we were playing well and I feel like they are getting Wolves at the worst possible time.

"They are playing as well as at any time during the season and I fancy them strongly for the play offs."

McGhee, whose best man at his wedding was Strachan, was sacked as Wolves manager back in 1998 just months after guiding them to an FA Cup semi-final.

He had led them to third place in the First Division in 1996/97, but they were ninth the year after.

McGhee admits he will have mixed feelings when watching the big match, although says the Strachan factor means Saints will get his support.

"It is a great chance for Southampton this year," he said.

"If Gordon was planning a route in the cup it would be lower division teams at home.

"Wolves will be formidable opposition, there is no doubt about that and Saints will have to be at their best.

"But they can see that this is a great chance for them this year.

"When it comes down to it I will be rooting for Gordon, but I'm still a big Wolves fan and will be happy for whoever gets through."

McGhee believes Wolves' main weapons will be the organisation and big-match experience running through their team.

"They have massive experience in their players who are not going to be fazed by playing at Southampton, in fact, they will almost certainly relish playing against Southampton at this stage in the cup," he said.

"Someone like Dennis Irwin has probably got as many cup winners medals as anyone in the country.

"Wolves have a very good midfield, my only doubt is whether up front they will be good enough.

"But they are organised and Southampton won't find it easy to break them down.

"It will be similar to our game with Southampton and could very easily be decided by the odd goal.

"Wolves are prepared to win 1-0, they are experienced and know how to take the sting out of a game.

"If Southampton go behind it could be difficult and they could do with scoring that crucial first goal."

McGhee, whose Lions team were mauled 5-0 by Portsmouth on Saturday, still looks back ruefully at the eventual defeat by Saints which prompted a four-match league losing streak.

"Our big chance against Saints was in the first game, but we just didn't manage to hold on to it," he reflected.

"We put in a good performance but, in the end, they passed the ball better and made us work very, very hard."