GRAEME LE SAUX has seen most things during a long and distinguished career, but a relegation scrap is something different.

The likes of Chelsea and Blackburn were generally chasing silverware rather than worrying about the dreaded drop when the cultured left-footer was plying his trade at Ewood Park and Stamford Bridge.

But Le Saux insists the pressure he will feel ahead of tonight's big clash with West Brom comes from within and a determination not to let his own high standards slip.

"My history is irrelevant in terms of what I'm going through at the moment," he explained. "You hope you can use your experience and qualities to have a positive effect on the outcome of games.

"That's all I think about. As a professional, I put myself under more pressure than anybody else puts me under, because every game you are in the firing line.

"You find yourself criticised and, if you are fortunate to be successful, you have a reputation and you set a standard.

"So the pressure is about being consistent from my point of view. You have to use those principles to play as well as you can and put all that external pressure to one side.

"I always play with urgency, I always play to win and to put in a good performance. I will be doing that - I want to do my job."

The mental approach is sure to be crucial tonight and Le Saux knows it is important for the players not to feel overly tense.

"If you go on to the pitch in fear, you will not perform," he said. "You have to have a confidence and belief in what you are doing. Form then gives people confidence and lifts the mood.

"Winning games psychologically is a huge boost. But it's how you use that achievement to keep motivated. You have to be consistent individually and collectively.

"This game will have a lot of bearing on the future of us. If we don't win it is not the end of the world, but it is a crucial match."

With Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea so dom-inant this season, Le Saux knows the matches between teams at the lower end of the table could prove decisive.

He added: "If you look at the run-in we have got, we have got it tough, as have the other clubs down near the bottom.

"West Brom have got some quality players. They invested at the beginning of the season and will be disappointed in some respects that their investments haven't secured a higher position. But that's not to blame those individuals.

"For us, we have invested in players during the January transfer window in the hope those players can have a positive influence on the squad. Bringing in new faces can do that.

"We look at our squad and their squad and we are happy with the depth of ours. We've got most people back from injury as well.

"There is a lot for us to be positive about but they are playing better than they have all season."