Anders Svensson has admitted he's trying to beef up his game to get a regular place in the Saints team.

The Swedish World Cup star, who is expected to come into the centre of midfield against Millwall today, with Rory Delap moving to left back, has been kept out of the starting XI in recent weeks thanks to Saints' fantastic run of form.

He admitted he was disappointed not to be starting every week but has pinpointed how he thinks he can improve his chances.

He said: "The team is playing more physically and there are players better suited to that than me.

"I think that's the reason I've been in and out, but that system suits us well.

"I'm trying to be more physical but I'm the player I am and it's for those qualities I was bought.

"That's the way I play. But eventually it's up to the manager and he has done excellently."

"Of course you want to play but it's tough competition and that's what is making the team strong."

Svensson added: "I think it's hard when you're not playing to stay focused and keep your form when you're playing a game and then not playing, but you still need to stay on top of your game.

"I've been in and out, but it's a long season for the World Cup players."

The 26-year-old, who joined Saints from Elfsborg for £700,000 in 2001, has generally been battling it out for a place in the centre of the Saints midfield with Delap and Matt Oakley.

But it's been tough for Svensson to break through with the Irishman and Englishman in such outstanding form. Svensson, though, believes that it just makes him want to work harder and improve even further.

"Of course it's competitive and you're disappointed when you're not playing - otherwise you wouldn't be a good player - but it's good for the team," he said.

"But if you're not playing you can't keep your head down and be angry and you shouldn't show your disappointment. You should work even harder and do well in training.

"That's good for everybody and that's the way you have to approach it."

Svensson's only goal so far this season came in the FA Cup rout of Tottenham earlier this month when he replaced the injured Chris Marsden on the left of midfield, a position which he says he enjoys.

"I have played in the centre for most of my life but two of my best games have been playing on the left where I can cut in, as I did against Tottenham," he added.

"I could come in behind the strikers and that was good fun, it felt good."