Gordon Strachan is set to send out a makeshift Saints side to face Arsenal at Highbury tonight as he protects some of his big stars only ten days before the FA Cup final.

The Saints boss admitted that he'll be looking after his key first team players ahead of the big day at the Millennium Stadium on May 17 and will have to stretch his squad to the max to do so.

This game against the Gunners had been billed as a dress rehearsal for the showpiece final but, with both sides set to leave out several of their biggest names, there won't be too many clues offered for the Cardiff clash.

Strachan said: "We'll be ready for when the cup final comes round but there'll be opportunities for other people who've had a nice life this year on the sides watching a wee bit and doing well - they've been enjoying being in a good squad and now it's their turn to perform.

"I would think everybody who'll play has got a chance of being on the pitch or a substitute in the cup final. It's not that different.

"There will be chances for people who have been on the bench recently to give themselves an opportunity of playing in the big game."

Among those set to sit out are Chris Marsden, who is struggling with a knee injury, and Claus Lundekvam, who will rest the kick he took on his ankle.

Both should be fit for the final but there are also likely to be several other regular first-team players to drop out of the Saints side with players like Paul Williams, Jo Tessem and Danny Higginbotham set to deputise.

Youngsters Chris Baird and Aaron Davies could also be line for a start or a place on the bench.

Strachan confessed that Arsenal missing out on the title to Manchester United has helped his team selection for this evening's game.

The Saints manager would have sent out a full strength side had the Premiership crown still been in the balance but he said: "Myself, honestly, I think I'm happier with the way it is now.

"If the title was still to be decided, I think it would have been our duty to field the fullest side as possible for everybody concerned.

"I think that's only right as a man and as a manager to do things right by everybody else.

Strachan able to rest players with title sealed

"We've all got our standards and principles - and I wouldn't like somebody else to do that to me if I was in trouble.

"That was the best team we could have got out there against Bolton. It would've been easy for me to whip another couple out or get Beatts off but I wouldn't do that to be fair to all the other teams involved.

"I've had that done to myself and it's not a nice feeling."

But Strachan doesn't think the result of tonight's game will have an impact on the final and played down the prospect of a Thierry Henry v James Beattie head-to-head contest to try and secure the Golden Boot.

"No result before a game has a bearing on another game," said Strachan.

"The Bolton result has no meaning on tonight. The atmosphere's going to change from being electric to being a more sombre mood and there's nothing we can do about that."

He added: "I think this club is bigger than players going for individual trophies.

"I think Beatts has been recognised as having the best season any striker's had for a long time on ratio because he's scored more than half our goals, and that's some going.

"But it says a lot for him and Brett Ormerod that they can work week in, week out without any back up.

"Jo Tessem's come in and given them a wee hand but it's mostly been those two."

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