Nigel Pearson is refusing to set a cast-iron points survival target for Saints - but believes around 52-54 points will see them safe on current form.

It is impossible for the Saints boss, or anybody else, to confidently predict what will be enough to ensure survival this season - such has been the incredible fluctuation in results of the teams scrapping to avoid Championship relegation.

Saints currently sit on 45 points and, if Pearson's current reckoning did turn out to be correct, it means between seven and nine points will be required from their remaining seven games.

A win against Coventry in the massive St Mary's clash tomorrow would be the perfect way to start and set them well on their way.

He said: "I have a mental picture of what I'm looking at between now and the end of the season.

"I've said I wasn't going to mention an actual points target but I would imagine it's going to be 52-54.

"It could change, I don't know, but it gives you some sort of a target and I think we're more than capable of getting out of this situation."

Pearson is no stranger to relegation pressure as a manager - his previous top job came at Carlisle where a last-minute goal on the final day of the season from loan keeper Jimmy Glass kept them from going out of the Football League in 1999.

"I've been in a number of situations like this over the years," he reflected.

"I would always prefer not to be like this, but I'm in it.

"You try and deal with these things in as calm a way as possible, and it is a time to keep calm.

"Ultimately the seven games we have, with the fluctuation of the league position, makes it easy to get carried away, either getting over-elated with one result or too depressed with one result because of how it effects the league, how it looks and how people perceive it to be."

Pearson added: "How do you deal with it? It will change from week to week, I suppose.

"After the Leicester game there was a lot of optimism, after the Hull game there was a lot of pessimism.

"What I have to do throughout it all is remain as level-headed as I can.

"I need to pick people up when they're feeling down and give them a reality check when they're getting carried away."

Aside from loan signing Richard Wright, Pearson has no fresh faces to add to his squad at this stage.

Centre half Andrew Davies has been ruled out for the season while midfielder Inigo Idiakez could return next week at Cardiff.

Vincent Pericard is expected to make his first start with Bradley Wright-Phillips still out for disciplinary reasons.

"Andrew Davies missing for the rest of the season is a huge disappointment for us and I'm sure the fans as well," said Pearson.

"But these things happen and we have to deal with it. Though it is a huge disappointment, we can't dwell on that.

"We have to look to the games ahead with a good squad of players who are committed to helping us stay up this season."