MARTIN CRANIE has his sights set on the FA Youth Cup - and doing his bit to steer Saints clear of relegation.

The 18-year-old defender has regularly featured in the first-team squad this season, but is currently focussed on tomorrow's fifth round Youth Cup clash with Arsenal.

Saints' academy has been enjoying an outstanding season - they have amazingly won 22 out of their 23 competitive matches - but the biggest game of all awaits at St Mary's with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Saints have NEVER won the FA Youth Cup - they have never even reached the final - but the current Under-18s have potentially the best chance of ending that statistic.

Cranie, who has already featured three times for the first-team under Harry Redknapp, will skipper the youth team tomorrow fresh from leading England under-19s last Wednesday.

He said: "Both of us are big teams really. Arsenal are the only team to beat the under-18s this season, so any team that wins this game can go on to win this.

"Because the lads have done so well in the league, we hope to do it in the Cup.

"We don't fear anyone really because we have beaten most teams this season so we are hoping to go on and win it.

"We go into every game with confidence. The record shows that we don't get beat by many teams.

"We go in hoping to win every game.

"Everyone looks to the Youth Cup. It's a chance to play on TV if we get to the final in front of a big crowd with lots of people watching and hopefully we will get there."

Cranie's international experience in various age-groups means that he knows many of the Arsenal team - who are ironically the only side to beat Saints at Under-18 level in 2004/05.

"They have got a good squad so it will be a hard game," he said.

"They have got a lot of pace in attack so we will have to be on our toes, but it should be a good game.

"We are strong all over the pitch, quick wingers, Bestie (Leon Best) can hold the ball up front, good midfield, strong at the back.

"Hopefully there will be good support and a good atmosphere."

Cranie has featured for the first-team against Liverpool, Charlton, Manchester City and Northampton this season and is still hoping to force his way back into the starting line-up.

He revealed that he has received words of encouragement from Redknapp since dropping out of the team.

He said: "I've had a bit of luck, a few injuries and I've got to play some games this year which was good.

"Some people have come back and the manager has changed the formation a bit and I'm on the edge now, but I will keep working hard and hopefully I can get in.

"I played at right-back and was then switched to left-back, which wasn't my position although I obviously just wanted to play.

"The manager said I had done well, that I didn't have anything to be disappointed about and to just keep going and I will be back in."

Cranie, who is 6ft 1ins, has largely played as a centre-back but many, including former boss Steve Wigley, believe that he may eventually go on to play his senior football at right-back.

He said: "I'd like to be a centre-back to be honest but because of my height in the Premiership I'm not sure if I will make it there.

"But I can play in different positions so if it's not centre-back I can play at right-back.

"It's a whole different game at full-back. You have just got to adapt to it.

"I've just got to keep my head down, work as hard as I can in training and hopefully get back in the first-team this year and hopefully help keep the lads up in the Premiership."