It could be all change at the back - and the front - when Saints take on Hull a week on Saturday.

Harry Redknapp is busy trying to decide what to do with players missing and more goals needing to be scored.

The break has come at a good time for Saints with Claus Lundkevam sidelined for a month and Michael Svensson and Marian Pahars able to use the break to build up a little more sharpness.

The first major problem Redknapp has to consider is in defence. Lundekvam and Darren Powell have formed a formidable centre back pairing. They have started together in 11 of Saints' 12 league games this season.

Their dominance and influence is underlined by two stats built up over that time. Only one team - Reading - have conceded fewer goals than Saints in the Championship this season. Saints have let in ten in 12 while Reading have shipped just seven in 12.

During that time, the only occasions the pair weren't together was for the match against Luton - where Saints let in three for the only time this season.

Now, though, that solid base, which has also included Tomasz Hajto at right back and Danny Higginbotham at left back, is going to have to change.

Lundekvam is out for a month with a stomach injury while Powell will start a three match ban at the Hull game after deciding to accept his suspension for flooring Reading's Kevin Doyle.

That means Redknapp needs to replace both centre halves.

Assuming Michael Svensson's belief that he can play three games in a week after 18 months out injured is correct, that is one centre back's role filled.

So who will partner him there?

You would imagine the club's next two centre halves, Darren Kenton and Matthew Mills, would only be on the fringes of Redknapp's thinking.

The obvious choice to come in is Martin Cranie but due to his lack of height he's more likely to be started at full back. He can play both left and right.

That would allow either Hajto or Higginbotham to switch into the centre to partner Svensson, with both naturally central defenders filling in on the flanks.

However, there is a chance Redknapp may consider another plan. That would be a change in formation.

The reason for that would be two-fold. One to accommodate the players he's got at his disposal and the other to try to perk things up a little in attack.

It's been a common theme this season that Saints need more goals, particularly from their strikers.

With Pahars coming back into the fold it could provide an option that could be utilised in more than one way.

If Redknapp sticks with 4-4-2 Pahars could play as a striker.

Redknapp, though, could always go with three at the back and use a 3-5-2.

That would allow his three natural centre halves - Svensson, Higginbotham and Hajto - to all play together at the back, retaining an imposing physical presence.

It would also allow Redknapp to get Pahars in the team in a wide position if he wanted to use his pace from the wings rather than up front.

Both of Pahars's appearances this season have been on the left of midfield where he has replaced Kamil Kosowski.

Then there is always the option of a 4-5-1 by getting Pahars up to support whoever was the lone striker, trying to utilise his pace running from deep.

Of course, much could also depend on whether Redknapp can get Djamel Belmadi back fit in time for the Hull game and also what other wheeling and dealing he can do.

Redknapp has already said he wants to bring in one or possibly two players on loan before the Hull game to try to beef up both his team and his squad and who he can get and in what positions will also determine what he will do. One is sure to be a striker while the other will either be a wide midfielder or a defender.

Whatever he decides, Redknapp knows he has a tough job on his hands to remain as solid at the back as Saints have been so far this season but also to provide the extra goals for a promotion push.