GEORGE Burley has backed Ricardo Fuller to continue his goal scoring form at Brighton tomorrow.

Head coach Burley believes a win against Brighton will secure Saints' Championship status for next season.

Boosted by victory over Cardiff last weekend - the first win in six league games - Burley's men go into the game against their relegation-threatened hosts fully expecting to pick up three points.

And he predicts the much-criticised Fuller will play a crucial part after picking up two goals against Cardiff on his first game back at St Mary's following a successful loan spell at Ipswich.

"Ricardo found it tough when he came here at the start of the season when things weren't really going right for him," said Burley.

"When I arrived he worked really hard on the training ground and, to be fair, never really got the opportunity because we gave other players chances to form a partnership.

"But coming back from Ipswich you can see his sharpness and fitness is very good.

"His attitude has always been first class and I had no hesitation in putting him in on Saturday.

"Thankfully he came up trumps and all credit to the boy.

"He's shown a lot of character in a difficult season."

With five strikes to his name now, the Jamaican is Saints' joint leading scorer this season along with the departed Theo Walcott and Nigel Quashie.

Burley expects a tough clash against a Brighton side buoyed by victory over fellow strugglers Millwall last weekend.

But Burley expects to complete the club's second double of the season over their south coast rivals and his fellow Scot Mark McGhee.

"It's always a good week when you are coming off a win," said Burley. "The three points were very crucial for the club so we didn't get sucked near the bottom three. If we win on Saturday that would virtually guarantee safety."

Saints will be without Danny Higginbotham (wrist) and Darren Kenton (hamstring).

And despite off-field distractions, with Saints shares being swallowed up by investors, Burley says the players are 100 per cent focused on the task in hand.

"We've still got a lot of football to play this season. The players and myself are all concentrating to get points. Until the last kick of the ball we'll be doing our best to win as many games as we can."