But the head coach says his starting team, which against Reading featured just three first team squad players at the club at the start of the campaign, is far from the finished article..

"It's nowhere near," he said. "When you lose that many players and only sign a couple permanently, it takes a year to gel that squad.".

Burley is looking to survive this season before rebuilding work can start properly in the summer..

"The clear out had to be done - we had about 36 pros. .

"It had to be changed. Over the last few years, it's been a difficult time for everybody at the club with a lot of unhappy players here. .

"Now it's a case of building, which is going to take time, but I've got every confidence we can become a very good side next season. Before that, we're in a scrap until the end of the season.".

With Saints in their lowest league position since January 1977 just seven points above the drop zone, Preston are hardly ideal opponents tonight. The fifth-placed Lancastrian side are unbeaten in the league since drawing against Saints at Deepdale last October and have the second best defensive record in the Championship, behind leaders Reading..

But that does not worry Burley. .

"We've got to be positive and take the game to Preston," he said. .

"They may have a good defensive record but that means nothing once that ball is kicked. .

"We've just got to be positive in all areas of the field and try and put them under pressure..

"We've got to be very focused and professional enough to get enough points so there is no danger of us going down..

"The work rate last Friday was excellent. I thought Richard Chap-low did very well and Jermaine Wright looked good in midfield. .

"Jermaine's a quality player. He's not played much football of late and I thought both of them were very good against Reading.".

l Burley is understood to have flown abroad on a scouting mission last weekend after Saints' defeat at league leaders Reading looking for another loan signing this season..

He added: "It's something we're looking at and, if we can bring one more in, we'll do it.".