Glenn Hoddle is determined to coax two more strong displays from his tired troops to finish the season on a high.

The Saints boss fully understands and shares the supporters' frustration at the two low-key displays since safety was achieved. But he has stressed again the importance of raising their game beyond a survival battle if they are to break away from a perennial relegation struggle.

On Sunday his side face a daunting task away to Liverpool who will be desperate for victory to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the champions League following their midweek home defeat by Leicester.

That 2-0 success at Anfield came hard on the heels of Leicester's 2-1 Dell win and Hoddle is determined his side will regain their self-respect.

He said: "We have worked extremely hard to try and make sure we did not take our foot off the pedal but maybe there is a bit of mental fatigue about some of them with a sigh of relief at getting safe.

"I can understand that to a degree but if we want to get up into that middle bracket of teams then we have got to work hard at it. There are effectively three divisions inside the Premier League and we have to get out of the relegation section and into the middle one."

l Saints have decided against going on a proposed end-of-season tour to China in order to ensure their players are able to get a rest for next season.

They had been invited to play two games but declined because of likely international calls for Marian Pahars, Hassan Kachloul and Tahar El Khalej and possibly Claus Lundekvam or Jo Tessem.

There is also a chance that Kevin Davies, Matthew Oakley or James Beattie could go to the finals of the European Under-21 Championships with England.

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