SUNDERLAND manager Mike Dodds believes Saints will use their 5-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light earlier in the season as fuel for revenge ahead of facing them again on Saturday.
The Black Cats then managed by Tony Mowbray, were comfortable winners when the two teams met earlier in September, but have suffered defeat in their last five games.
Dodds' side have also lost several key players to injury, most notably top goalscorer Jack Clarke, who scored the opener in the reverse fixture.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Dodds said: "They will be using that defeat as fuel because they will want revenge - I am sure of it.
"We will be aware of that and need to do what we do. At the moment, results are not going the way we want them to go. That is on us. That will have no bearing on what happens on Saturday.
"They have had a lot of time between that game and now to enhance what they are trying to do. They are a much more polished and refined team than the one we played earlier in the season."
READ MORE: No fire damage to St Mary's as Saints issue latest update ahead of Sunderland fixture
The postponement of Southampton's game against Preston meant they did not play a midweek fixture, whereas the Black Cats lost 1-0 to Leicester on Tuesday evening.
That means Russell Martin's side have had more time to recover after their thrilling 4-3 win over Birmingham last weekend.
"It feels like there are a lot of small things going against me and us at the moment. We have got to control the controllables and focus on us," Dodds continued.
"We aren't feeling sorry for ourselves but there is a feeling of 'come on, someone give us a break here."
Having watched back Sunderland's performance against league-leaders Leicester, Dodds was encouraged about what they could do against Saints.
"We played against a really good team on Tuesday and we were fearless for a lot of the game," he noted.
"I take huge positives from what I've seen. Whether it's Southampton away or Leicester at home we have to be Sunderland, that is something that we won't change."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here