Town boss Roy Keane will have to decide whether to rest a few players for Saturday’s FA Cup trip to League One Southampton with two arguably more important Championship games following on Tuesday and next weekend. Midfielder David Norris, just back from a long-term knee problem, could be one of those left out.

The Blues are definitely without keeper Brian Murphy, who is not yet over his ankle injury, and Jon Stead, who serves the final game of his four-match ban. Murphy could be back in the squad for Tuesday’s home game with West Brom.

The Irishman’s absence means that Arran Lee-Barrett, who signed a new 18-month deal with the club on Thursday, will continue in goal.

Keane is likely to stick with the same back four as last week with Jaime Peters again impressing at left-back. Damien Delaney and Gareth McAuley will continue at the centre with Liam Rosenior at right-back.

In midfield, Keane may leave David Norris on the sidelines, having said that the former Plymouth man won’t play all three of this week’s games. In which case, Owen Garvan or Jack Colback will probably move into the centre of the midfield.

Garvan switching inside could see Jon Walters return to the right of midfield, while Carlos Edwards or perhaps even Lee Martin, who impressed Keane in the reserves earlier in the week, are alternative options for that role.

Walters noving back into the midfield would allow the Blues boss to pair two of Stern John, Pablo Couñago and Tamás Priskin up front. All three have been on the scoresheet this week, John and Couñago for the first team and Priskin for the reserves, and Keane will hope that at least one of them can get into a run of goalscoring form.

The Town manager says his side are improving in front of goal: “There are a few strikers starting to find form. Pablo coming on and scoring last week, that’s what you want from your substitutes, Stern got his first goal, Steady was in good form before that and Jack Colback is finding the net. So we’ve been hitting the net over the last few games, which is a big bonus.

“And that gives us a chance because we’ve been putting ourselves under far too much pressure over the last few months by not scoring enough goals.

“In the last few games we’ve averaged three goals a game at home - although obviously we’re away on Saturday - and it does help.”

Keane says Southampton are a better side than their position of 13th in League One suggests: “They’re a good team with a good manager. I watched them at the MK Dons on Tuesday when they played really well and had some good chances.

“It’s another tough game for us, another tough one after Blackpool [in the previous round]. When you consider the points deduction they had at the start of the season they should be well further up the table.

“Southampton’s a good club and you look at their manager, he was 10 seconds from the FA Cup as a manager at West Ham, only for Steven Gerrard to lash one in from 30 yards, so I’m sure the FA Cup will mean a lot to Alan Pardew and his team.

“It’ll be a tough game for us and we’ve got to make sure that it’s a tough game for them.”

Keane is a big fan of the FA Cup, having won it four times as a player, and feels that it's regaining its importance: “I think the competition was damaged a little bit. You go back to United when they pulled out to go to Brazil and over the last few years there’s been squad rotation with a lot of the bigger clubs, but you don’t see that any more in the FA Cup.

“I think it’s got its magic back. It had lost it for a few years, I know the crowds are down but that could be for a number of reasons — games called off, bad weather, people struggling financially — but the FA Cup still has its magic for me.”

Southampton have signed Southend striker Lee Barnard — who is yet to play in the FA Cup this season — while Saints frontman Matt Paterson has moved in the opposite direction. Barnard’s switch to St Mary’s suggests that manager Alan Pardew is no longer interested in Town striker Kevin Lisbie.

The Saints have French midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin banned after receiving a red card against the MK Dons, while skipper Dean Hammond is out with a hamstring problem.

Defenders Rahdi Jaidi (eye) and Graeme Murty (ankle) are also sidelined but ex-Town left-back Dan Harding may be back after a midweek cold and frontman David Connolly, who played for Roy Keane at Sunderland, could return from a groin injury. Ex-Canary Jon Ostemobor, recent signing from Palace Jose Fonte and former Exeter man Dan Seaborne are both cup-tied.

Saints boss Alan Pardew says there's no reason why Town can't make the play-offs this season: “If you are going to bring in big ­changes, sometimes you have to go backwards. I think that is what they did, but now they are going forwards fast.

"Roy has a great record at Championship level and who’s to say they won’t make a late run to get into the play-offs?”

The sides last met in the FA Cup at the third round stage in 1999/00 at Portman Road when the then-Premiership Saints won 1-0, Dean Richards scoring the game's only goal.

Southampton also won both the other two FA Cup meetings between the teams, also in round three, a 7-1 thrashing at the Dell in 1960/61 — Town’s record cup defeat - and a 3-2 victory in 1990/91, also in Hampshire. The Saints also won the only League Cup tie between the teams, running out 2-0 winners at Portman Road in 1990.

Last season, in Southampton's Championship relegation season, the sides drew 2-2 at St Mary's with Alan Quinn and Owen Garvan netting for the Blues and Andrew Surman and Tomas Pekhart scoring for the home side.

The Saints won 3-0 at Portman Road later in the season with Jason Euell scoring twice and Matt Paterson adding the third. Overall, Town have won 25 games between the sides, have drawn 18 and have lost 20.

The match will see Saints Kelvin Davis and Dan Harding face their old club, while keeper Bartosz Bialkowski was on loan at Portman Road last season without playing a game.

Current Blue Richard Wright spent time on loan at St Mary's while a West Ham player but won't be involved has he's out with a knee injury until March. Loan striker Stern John was with the Saints between his spells with Roy Keane's Sunderland and Crystal Palace.

Town boss Roy Keane is not a favourite at St Mary’s. In 2005 Keane fell out with Southampton fans while warming up when a Manchester United sub after responding to taunts by mocking their relegation.

Town are taking their largest away following this season of more than 3,000 to St Mary's. A limited number of tickets will be available on the day, from Ticket Office 3, cash only from 9am.

Saturday’s referee is Andy Hall from the West Midlands, who has shown a not insignificant 92 yellow and five red cards in 24 games so far this season. Hall’s last Town match was the recent 0-0 home draw with Peterborough, in which he showed only the one yellow card to Posh midfielder George Boyd.

Squad from: Lee-Barrett, McLoughlin, Peters, Rosenior, Delaney, McAuley, D Wright, Bruce, Balkestein, Leadbitter, Norris, Garvan, Colback, Edwards, Martin, Quinn, Walters, Couñago, John, Priskin, Wickham.

Photo: Action Images

Surco72 added 13:22 - Jan 22 Lee Barrett Rosenoir,Mac,Delaney,Peters Edwards,Leadbitter,Garvan,Colbaek Walters,Counago Bruce,Wright,Norris,Martin,John,Wickham 2-0 win Edwards and Garvan
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JayITFC added 13:24 - Jan 22 Would make sense to rest a couple. Walters, Leadbitter, Norris are key players.
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superblueflude added 13:33 - Jan 22 As we have Brommy on tuesday do you think it might be wise to bring the likes of leadbitter off at half time and replace with someone like Garvan? so maybe start with a midfield of Edwards Leadbitter Colback Martin just a thought as much as I would love a great cup run, surely we really need to concentrate on the league?
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adamisablue added 13:35 - Jan 22 exactly. id probably rest leadbitter to be honest, have colbaek and garvan in the center, martin and edwards wide counago and priskin up front.(have counago play just off priskin) keep the back 5 (keeper incuded) as it is for solidaterty.
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superblueflude added 13:37 - Jan 22 totally agree adamisablue Would be a good game to maybe bring through someone like Ed Upson or Billy Clark - midfielder!lol
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Marshalls_Mullet added 13:38 - Jan 22 We WONT get relegated, slim chance of the play offs. Lets have a cup run. First XI please Roy.
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brockleyblueboy added 13:39 - Jan 22 Good luck fellas. 4-1 to the blues. I have a good feeling that we could be on for a good cup run. Winning breeds winning and we can take a good result against the st mary fairy's and have a real good go at West Brom on Tuesday. COYB
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superblueflude added 13:42 - Jan 22 what i' m worried about is hammering southampton, and nackering the 1st team out, then suddenly we get tonked against Brum who have the capabilities of doing that - what happens to our league confidence then?
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PlymptonBlue added 13:50 - Jan 22 Why on earth would we be resting our key players in favour of a league campaign that is effectively over (bar looking over our shoulders)? Let's face it, Play Offs are out of reach so let's concentrate on the Cup and give the 3000 Town fans something to cheer tomorrow!
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StowTractorBoy added 13:57 - Jan 22 I beleieve we should play our strongest team tomorrow perhaps with the exception of Norris who is still to reach full fitness. As soon as you bring in the likes of Martin, Quinn and Bruce we will look ordinary again and make no mistake Southampton are a good side and will be cock a hoop after the Johnstone Paints win in midweek. If Roy keeps the regular back four I think we can get a draw at least. I hope we can get over this hurdle as a cup run keeps the season alive.

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superblueflude added 14:01 - Jan 22 Sorry Plympton how are play offs out of reach? Arsenal were 11 points behind Chelsea and are not top last season Liverpool were top by 12 and lost top posistion and Crystal palace when they went up won what 12 out of 14 games to reach them so why can't we?
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Surco72 added 14:14 - Jan 22 Why cant we play our strongest team against Saints and Brom ? It would only be 5 games in last 5 weeks hardly that taxing for professionals surely ?
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brockleyblueboy added 14:24 - Jan 22 So with you you on this one superblueflude. Play-offs are a deffinite possibility. Like I said we win our game in hand and we are only 7 points off a play-off spot. The season is very much on and quite frankly I want it all, why the hell not. One of our best runs in past years involved a decent worthington cup run. WINNING BREEDS WINNING. Why settle for anything but the win. (Jee whizz I sound like a Nike advert)

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superblueflude added 14:26 - Jan 22 Surco i agree, i've always thought that but sometimes i also don't feel that fans do actually take into consideration the true pain and barries players go through during matches as well as between and for me i'd mix it up.
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Hinesy_itfc1 added 14:27 - Jan 22 i would go with: Lee Lee Lee Barrett! Rosenior Mcauley Delaney Peters Walters Garvan Colback Martin Priskin Counago Mcloughin, leadbitter, wright, whickham, John, Bruce, Edwards My reasoning behind priskin is that i think that if he could get a couple of goals under his belt then he could really find some form, what better way to do it than against a lower league team. Couple of impact players on the bench to change the game if needed? Any thoughts?

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corshamblue added 14:28 - Jan 22 Billy Clarke in for Norris, Give Garvin 90mins and the same for Priskin. Agree with keeping Back 4 together, starting to look a unit for sure and McAuley directing traffic there very well. Southampton will be a tricky game, make no mistake there! COYB
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Surco72 added 14:36 - Jan 22 Hinesy i am one for get the win and then rest players ,start with best 11 IMO. As for Priskin starting why ? We have scored 13 goals in last 5 games why do we need him to find form ? Stead will be back next week and Walters ,Counago,Wickham and John if he stays will be good partners for him which Priskin wouldnt be as both slightly to lazy ,so to play Priskin would mean dropping Stead

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MazzaCOYB added 14:43 - Jan 22 Playoffs are by no means out of reach but in this case I would agree that a strong side should be put out. I think a win down in Southampton should give us the confidence to get a result against the baggies. I know this is a bit of a case of 'have your cake and eat it' but why not. We are going well at the moment and apart from Norris who is not fully fit again yet I beleive all the first 11 boys will want to be playing tomorrow and they should! COYB

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Hinesy_itfc1 added 14:48 - Jan 22 Surco72 - Very true, i do agree with that. i guess im just in hope more than anything that priskin will not turn out to be a complete waste of 1.7million. But as you rightly said stay with the team thats scoring goals and getting results. i for one will be there cheering on the might tractor boys. KEANO'S BARMY ARMY!
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matt_the_blue added 15:10 - Jan 22 The only advantage of resting some players is there's less chance of a key player like Leadbitter, Norris, Walters etc getting cleaned up by a dirty tackle and getting sidelined for 3 months. Plymptonblue, you may think the playoffs are out of reach but the relegation zone is still a little too close behind us for my liking atm and if we did lose players to injuries sustained in the cup then there's every chance of sliding back down the table. That being said there's no guarantee they will get injured either, and I'd love to see us have a good cup run so will be happy either way! :) COYB!

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pitseablue added 15:33 - Jan 22 I fancy us for a good cup run. Keano seems up for it, the league will sort itself out later. COYB.
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:37 - Jan 22 its not the taking part ...its the winning that counts ! a cup run would be good, but it would be a sickener to get a key player crocked, however that could happen anytime ,its a tough call .
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cbower added 16:18 - Jan 22 Unless Keane is playing games, Norris will either not play or just be on the bench. Jhn seems to be in his plans at the moment and he has already stated that he doesn't expect him to play three games inside 8 days (has John played a full 90 minutes yet - maybe at Cardiff?) IMO, Keane should pick a strong team and maintain as much continuity as possible, especially in his defence unit. However, judging on his tinkerering record, I can see Bruce and D.Wright starting, Garvan in central midfield with with Counago up front. Not that I would pick this team, but my guess for tomorrow would be: Lee-Barrett Rosenior Bruce McAuley D.Wright Edwards Leadbitter Garvan Colback Walters Counago Subs: McGloughlin, Peters, Balkestein, Martin, Wickham, Quinn, Priskin A 2-1 victory would do nicely then someone like Spurs at home in the next round.

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brockleyblueboy added 16:34 - Jan 22 Defo bring on a premiership team if we get to the next round. If we could get a result against one of them it would do wonders for the final push to the play-offs. I know I am probably sounding daft but the play-offs are in sight, we can do this. Stranger things have happened. Have you seen Chris De Burghs ddaughter! How did a hobbit like him have a hand in that!

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Special_A added 16:38 - Jan 22 If we don't take this game seriously we could become embarrassed pretty quickly, the saints are a useful side. I do agree in resting Norris though, after a long injury he could benefit from a rest. Quite fancy Priskin to be the first goal scorer if he gets a start.
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