HAMPSHIRE police will have 400 officers on duty this Sunday for the crunch clash between Southampton and Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Mounted police from Thames Valley Police, British Transport Police and the Roads Policing Unit as well as a team of 15 police dogs and the Force Support Unit who are specialists in public order will be on hand to try to keep the peace between rival groups of fans.

More than 20 police officers will also patrol railway stations and a special train that will take Saints fans to Portsmouth for the derby game.

Police want fans to use the service that will leave Southampton central Railway Station at 9.58am, arriving at Fratton at 10.45am for the midday kick-off. The train will call at St Denys, Bitterne, Woolston, Sholing, Netley, Hamble, Busledon and Swanwick and the return service will leave Fratton at 2.38pm.

The huge police presence will be backed by evidence gathering teams who will be out and about at the ground on mountain bikes in a bid to prevent the violence which marred Saints' last visit to Portsmouth in 2004.

There are fears that the match could be a fraught occasion with Saints deeply involved in a relegation battle. It will also be the first time Saints manager, Harry Redknapp has returned to Saints south-coast rivals since he controversially quit Fratton Park.