MICHAEL SVENSSON is relishing the prospect of locking horns with European Golden Boot winner Roy Makaay.

The Swede will tonight go head-to-head with the player many believe to be the most dangerous striker in world football.

Dutch international Makaay transferred to Bayern in the summer for £13.5m after scoring an amazing 38 goals in 49 games for Spanish club Deportivo.

This season he has shown little sign of slowing down, netting 12 so far in 19 games.

But Svensson, pictured above, has proudly helped Saints establish one of the outstanding defensive records in the country and said: "They have many good players. They have the resources to buy players and they have Roy Makaay.

"He has scored lots of goals and they have lots of very good players.

"I'm looking forward to playing against Makaay. He is a good striker, he scored lots of goals when he used to play in Spain.

"It is exciting to play these players and I'm looking forward to it. It will be a cracking game and we will try to beat them."

After their UEFA Cup adventure earlier in the season, Svensson believes Saints can build on the experience with tonight's game.

He said: "They are one of the best teams in Europe and as far as I know they are coming with a good side.

"It is a good experience to play this kind of side. We played European football against Bucharest and we learnt a lot.

"Now we are playing Bayern Munich, who won the Champions League not very long ago.

"We can do really well against them. It is a friendly but it means a lot to us, and also to them."

Svensson is suspended for Saturday's trip to Old Trafford, but hopes to use tonight's game to improve his understanding with Fitz Hall, who has been deputising as centre-back for the injured Claus Lundekvam.

He added: "You need a few games before you know each other, but Fitz has done really well.

"There are lots of games left and we are looking forward to the programme. We want to improve and we want to get higher in the table.

"Of course we want European football again."

FRANCIS BENALI - MY SUPERB SAINTS CAREER: 4-page special in today's Sport On Monday supplement.