JIM SMITH admits Saints' home FA Cup fifth round tie against Brentford or Hartlepool is a great draw.

The Division One clubs meet in a fourth round replay a week Saturday and the winners will face Saints at St Mary's on the weekend of February 19.

Saints avoided the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle and Everton in yesterday's draw, leaving them a great chance to progress to the last eight for the second time in three years.

Assistant boss Smith, pictured above, said: "You can only ask for a home draw and, if we are honest, they are a couple of the teams that we would prefer to have when you look at some of the teams left.

"A home tie and a full house gives us a fantastic chance and then you are in the last eight."

Smith admits he fancies facing Brentford, though Hartlepool are the only club in their protecting an unbeaten home league record this season.

He said: "It would be nice to play Brentford, (manager) Martin Allen is a friend and they probably need the money. Whoever comes down you can't take it too lightly, but you can't deny that it is a great draw.

"It is a hard competition to get through. Whoever we play will enjoy their day and will work very, very hard.

"Brentford are chasing promotion and Hartlepool are on a terrific run. They will work hard and give us problems.

"They will give everything that they have and these games can be banana skins. But you can't ask for much better than that.

"We are not going to walk through - they will be hard games and they are dangerous games."

Smith admits he and manager Harry Redknapp were relieved to escape an FA Cup replay at Pompey after Peter Crouch's dramatic injury-time penalty winner on Saturday.

He added: "We were dreading a replay. We were a bit fortunate maybe but that is the Cup. Let's hope our name is on it for a few more rounds.

"It took us quite a few games to get a victory but they have worked hard and there is a good spirit.

"You could tell the confidence had come back after the Liverpool game.

"Success breeds success. If we get a Cup run going it will keep everyone bouncing and hopefully give us an extra bit to win the league matches.

"The players have got a spring in their step.

"Birmingham away tomorrow is a tough game and we must try and get something out of it.

"We are on the downhill stretch now. We have not got many more chances and we need points to stay up.

"Things have turned a little bit, they (the players) are looking forward to games where before maybe they weren't."

FA CUP FIFTH ROUND DRAW:

Bolton v Derby or Fulham, West Brom or Spurs v Nottm Forest, Everton v Manchester United, Charlton v Leicester, Burnley v Blackburn, Saints v Hartlepool or Brentford, Newcastle v Chelsea, Arsenal v West Ham or Sheff Utd.

Ties to be played on February 19/20.