STEVE WIGLEY will give his academy starlets one simple message when they take to the field at St Mary's tonight for the first lef of the FA Youth Cup final against Ipswich.

"I would like them to go out and have no regrets and play to their ability," said the Saints director of youth.

Wigley is predicting an entertaining match in tonight's first leg, but is well aware of the quality contained within an Ipswich team Saints have already beaten twice this season.

"Ipswich are a very good side and there was only an odd goal in the games we have played," said Wigley. "We've played them five or six weeks ago and it was very close. They will come to play.

"They will be well organised and the players have just got to do what they do well, have no regrets and play.

"But Ipswich has been an established academy for a long-time. If you look at people like Kieron Dyer, Titus Bramble and Richard Wright, you can see they have produced players. It will be a cracking final and it should be one for the football purist."

Saints reached the final following last Wednesday's thrilling penalty shoot-out win against Wolves and so have had limited time to prepare for the club's first-ever appearance in the FA Youth Cup final.

"It was very exciting but we don't have time to really reflect on that," said Wigley. "We have to recover but we know that we are a very fit side and we saw that on Wednesday. We feel strong and fit."