IT'S not only Saints that will be aiming to carry on their unbeaten record when they return to European action after a 19-year absence at St Mary's on Wednesday.

For UEFA Cup first round first leg opponents Steaua Bucharest are also undefeated in their first six games of the Romanian League season.

But while Saints are fourth with three wins and three draws, Steaua are TOP of their league with the identical record.

Victor Piturca's men are the only club left protecting an unbeaten record in their section following Friday's goalless draw with eighth-placed Apulum.

That was a match which saw Steaua finish with ten men following the 72nd minute red carding of defender Mirel Radoi.

One other thing Steaua have in common with Gordon Strachan's men is a mean defence. While Paul Jones has only conceded three goals in 540 minutes of league action, Vasili Hamutovski has only let in two.

Apart from having yet to lose in league action, Steaua were also unbeaten in qualifying for the first round of the UEFA Cup.

While Saints went through automatically to the first round, Steaua had to play FC Nemangrodno.

The side who were runners-up in the Romanian League last season, seven points adrift of arch rivals Rapid Bucharest, made hard work of beating the almost unknown Belarussians.

Steaua managed to draw the away leg 1-1 and qualified on the away goals rule after a 0-0 home draw in the second leg the night before the first round draw was made in Monaco.

Steaua's bid for away goals will be led by Romanian international Claudiu Raducanu.

The 26-year-old was the top scorer in the Romanian League last season with 21 goals - two fewer than James Beattie plundered for Saints.

The official Steaua website allows people the chance to personally email all the club's players. However, the Daily Echo emailed a selection of questions regarding Wednesday's tie to Raducanu over a week ago and at the time of going to press were still waiting for a reply.

Perhaps, in the light of Saints' recent performances, he has been stunned into silence!

SAINTS IN EUROPE: 4-page special inside today's Daily Echo.