RALPH Hasenhuttl insists he is not placing much importance on the fact Saints could go top of the Premier League table tomorrow, stating: "It's good when you are a little bit under the radar."

Victory over Newcastle United at St Mary's tomorrow evening (8pm) would lift Hasenhuttl's in-form side to the top of the pile, for a few hours at least.

After losing their first two matches, Saints are now unbeaten in five in the league following last weekend's 4-3 victory at Aston Villa.

Asked if he is eyeing a spot in the top six with Saints this season, Hasenhuttl said: "We have played now seven games in a very, very long season. I have seen so many teams in the beginning of the season being top of the table or near the top, and then relegated. We know things can change so quick - a few injuries or something like that can change everything so quick.

"Take it as a signal that we at the moment are a very strong side and that we showed again that we can have a high level of performing.

"But there's no guarantee that it goes on for the whole season, definitely there are teams out there, they have much more opportunities, a bigger squad and more quality in every position, that can put two first squads on the pitch without problems I think.

"You cannot compare them to us. We definitely have different targets to go for. For us it's a success if you are top half of the table, so we have different targets."

He continued: "But that doesn't mean that you don't want to win against these teams if we have the chance to. So we go in every game to be successful. And the good thing in the moment is for me that we show this mentality much more.

"Before I came here I was working in a team (RB Leipzig) where losing was nearly not allowed, because we wanted to be top in Germany, and this mentality I tried to implement from the first day that I'm here. To get out of this atmosphere of not being confident, if I'm always on the bottom of the table and struggling to stay in the league.

"This is not what we want to have in the future and I think the guys now, we have a good mentality now in the team.

"We have that mentality of, I sometimes call it, we like to be the pirate. It's more fun than to join the Navy.

"So it's definitely something we can use every day and it makes it fun to go and grab some points from the big teams. Why not?"

Asked if Saints, who currently sit fifth in the table, are going under the radar this season despite their impressive start, Hasenhuttl added: "This is good if we’re a little bit under the radar. We don’t need to be in the focus because it doesn’t make the daily work easier if you are under focus and go into the weekend as the leader of the table.

"It's not necessary for me to be the focus to be honest, it's good when you are a little bit under the radar. I like it to be honest."