George Burley is keeping his fingers crossed his centre halves can walk a tightrope and avoid a costly suspension.

Both Claus Lundekvam and Chris Baird are currently on four bookings for the season.

And if either were to pick up a yellow card, it would mean an automatic one-match ban.

But if they can manage to avoid a fifth caution for the next three games - against Barnsley, Coventry and Ipswich - FA rules means they can then have TEN bookings before having to serve a ban.

With Darren Powell out for another few weeks with a thigh problem, Michael Svensson still sidelined and Pele rated as 50-50 for the weekend with a hamstring strain, Saints can barely afford a suspension in that position.

Burley said: "Both Claus and Chris are on four book ings but if they manage to avoid any bookings for the next three games that gets cancelled.

"So fingers crossed they get through because that would leave them clear until ten bookings.

"It's a little bit of a knife edge because if they get booked on Saturday they would miss the Ipswich match.

"We've had a number of centre half problems this season but fingers crossed this won't be another."

The news on Pele is at least encouraging with his hamstring strain not as bad as first feared.

The versatile defender/midfielder missed last weekend's game with West Brom but could be involved against Barnsley at St Mary's this Saturday.

Burley added: "Pele is progressing well. He felt his hamstring in training last Friday and we tested it on the Saturday but he wasn't fit to play.

"We don't feel it's too serious, more of a tightening of his hamstring and he's 50-50 for Saturday.

"He will probably stay with the physio until Friday and we'll assess it then.But we don't think it's too serious."