HARRY REDKNAPP is building his side up for eight days that will "define" the club's future.

Saints take on Aston Villa at St Mary's tomorrow, Bolton at The Reebok on Tuesday and Portsmouth at Fratton next Sunday - an eight-day spell that will help decide their fate.

With just six matches left this season, Saints are desperately trying to claw themselves out of the bottom three to retain their Premiership status.

After this vital week, Saints still have crunch games against Norwich and Crystal Palace to come, as well as a final-day clash against Manchester United, but Redknapp knows the road to safety will have to be well trodden by then.

He said: "This is probably the defining week - Villa at home, Bolton away and Portsmouth away are three big games. If you have a good week, you can really lift yourself out of it and give yourself a great chance.

"If you have a disastrous week, it's going to be difficult.

"I've got confidence in the players and we'll give it everything we've got.

"I still think we'll be OK."

Redknapp also called on the St Mary's crowd to do their bit, adding: "The fans are going to be a major part now. They have got to get behind us.

"They've got to give us the lift we need and we've got to give them something back as well. We've all got to be in it together and make it a difficult place to come to."

Saints are likely to be boosted by the return from injury of keeper Antti Niemi, who resumed training yesterdat after a hip problem.

Redknapp's other major decision is again whether to stick with Henri Camara in attack or play Kevin Phillips alongside Peter Crouch.

Redknapp will also have an eye on events elsewhere as Norwich and Crystal Palace battle it out at Selhurst Park while West Brom kick their heels until Wednesday.

"I don't know what it's going to take to stay up," he said. "You just can't tell. The great run West Brom have been on has pushed the target higher.

"A few weeks ago, people might have been looking at it and thinking 35 points would be enough, now maybe 37 - you just don't know.

"If they keep winning, we have to as well, and Palace and Norwich as well.

"Nigel Worthington will think if Norwich can beat Palace and win another game or two next week, they'll be right in there as well."

Redknapp is confident his team will get their nightmare 3-0 defeat at Blackburn out of their systems quickly, adding: "We've been trying to lift them. There's no point knocking them, as they've been playing so well.

"We didn't play well at Blackburn but we had a meeting on Monday and now everybody's very positive again.

"Every game's big now but we're at home against Villa and need the three points. But Villa are a capable outfit and David O'Leary's got his strikers back, so that'll make a difference.

"We know it's going to be tough."