SAINTS youngsters will face a jalapeno-hot time in Chile when they jet off on a voyage of discovery, and at the same time cement links with their South American partners.

Southampton's Under-17s will take part in a tournament hosted by Deportivo de Universidad Catolica, the Chilean club Saints have combined with to try to get in at the ground level of recruitment in South America.

But Saints face some hot opposition, including national squads and youth teams from three former world club champions.

The academy youngsters first task will be to qualify from a group which includes the Paraguayan Under-17 national squad, River Plate from Argentina, Nacional from Uruguay, Chilean hosts Deportivo di Universidad Catolica, and Chilean club Union Espanola.

The other group includes the Chilean Under-17 national squad, Atlas from Mexico, Independi-ente from Argentina, Cerro Porteno from Paraguay, and Chilean clubs Palastino and Colo Colo.

River Plate, Nacional and Independiente all have the pedigree of former World champions, while Colo-Colo were beaten finalists.

The size of the task facing Saints youngsters was summed up by Academy director John Sainty, who said: "The German team who played in the tournament last season were thumped 11-0 and 7-0 in two games, so I think that gives some idea of the strength of the opposition."

The adventure begins for the Saints youngsters when they fly out on February 1 to Madrid, where they change on to a direct flight to Santiago, arriving there the following day.

Sainty added: "The flight takes us over The Andes and is the only direct one - the alternative was changing in Buenos Aires."

One of the first things to confront the Saints youngsters on their arrival will be the change in conditions.

"The temperatures there at the moment are something like 30-34 degrees, and there's also the question of altitude to take into account with Santiago a few thousand feet above sea level," said Sainty.

The youngster will play a friendly against a local side before plunging into the tournament with Sainty not only making the most of the opportunity to gauge the progress of the Saints youngsters - but also to cast an eye over others.

"We're hopeful of picking up one or two," says Sainty, who expects Saints chairman Rupert Lowe to join the group in Chile for a few days.

The participation of Saints youngsters in the tournament is the first tangible foundation of the partnership the club have entered into with Universidad, set up not only to tap into the South American market and provide players for the Academy, but also to try and unwrap some of the secrets of South American coaching techniques.

As well as Sainty, Saints recruitment officer Malcolm Elias will also make the trip with Under-17 coach Steve Head, physio Phil Wilson and Gary Williams, head of the Australian academy, who was instrumental in setting up the link with Universidad.

"It will be an experience," says Sainty. "We've done things like this before, but we probably haven't gone as far as this. Mind you, we're taking our Under-14s and Under-15s to Bristol this weekend!

Saints squad: Gareth Williams, Michael Green, Brett Poate, Alan Davies, Andrew Robertson, Matthew Rosier, Darren Broxton, Matthew Crowell, Shea Sunaders, Mark Peters, Brian Howard, Craig Fullam, Michael Poke, Stephen Hunt, Jonathan Mills, Richard Jones, Andrew Surman, Chris McDonald.