Southampton defender Matt Targett on Burnley

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are yet to taste Premier League defeat since the turn of the year, beating Leicester and Everton.

There have also been draws against Chelsea, and most recently, Crystal Palace.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl

Targett said: “It’s going to be a big test. There will be a lot of long balls and we will need to pick them up better than we did against Crystal Palace. 

“But we have to look at the next two games and think that it’s got to be three points, so we will be going into the game with our heads held high hoping to bring home the three points.

“We’ve got to extend the gap from the bottom three, that’s the most important thing, but we are confident.

“There are still so many games to play and anyone can beat anyone, which you saw when Newcastle beat City the other night.

“It’s a crazy league, but we can only do our job. We’ve got another home game after and we’ve got to continue our run.

“We are unbeaten in the Premier League (in 2019) at the moment and we need to keep that.”

Targett has continued to develop under Hasenhuttl’s management but, with Ryan Bertrand back in full training, now has a fight on his hands to keep his starting spot.

Saints defender Ryan Bertrand

Bertrand’s been absent since the draw with Watford in November last year through a back injury which required a minor operation to resolve.

But his presence in training is only spurring Targett on and the 23-year-old claims he isn’t about to roll over and give up his place in the side.

“I’m in the team at the moment and it’s my job to stay here,” he continued.

“We still talk a lot and he is back in training now, so it’s healthy to have the competition. It’s great to see him back, but I’m not just going to give the position up.

“He has got to work hard to get it. Competition for places is massive and it only helps the team.”

Hasenhuttl is getting his wing-backs to stay high up the pitch, the idea being that the three central defenders will provide the necessary cover, which Targett admits he is still getting used to.

He added: “It takes time to get confident with the system, but we’ve had a lot of time to work on it.

“You’ve got to trust that the players behind you are organised well, so that when the ball does go past me or over my head, they are there to tidy it up.”