Antti Niemi could go from the man of the moment to being out of the team if he lets his form slip - and he knows it.

The Saints 'keeper, a hero last week at Fulham after pulling off two great first-half saves - and then hitting the Fulham bar in injury time to set up the equaliser, has seen his good friend and international colleague Peter Enckelman axed from the Aston Villa team.

Enckelman was also seen as a Villa hero at the start of the season but his form has since dipped and he is likely to start on the bench at St Mary's tomorrow.

Niemi is sure his pal will get back into the side soon enough but admits the situation acts as a warning that anybody in the Premiership will be dropped if they don't perform consistently.

He said: "When you play for a big club in a big league you know you have to be on your toes because every team has two or three good goalkeepers. But Peter will bounce back.

"We're going to Italy next Tuesday morning for the international match and we'll have a chat about it then and hopefully catch up at the match on Saturday as well.

"We all have our little ups and downs and better 'keepers than him or me go through a spell where things don't work out.

"But one good save doesn't make you a good goalkeeper and one mistake doesn't make you a bad goalkeeper. He's a fairly sensible guy and I see no reason why he won't be back sooner rather than later."

When Saints faced Villa at Villa Park in October it brought them their first away win of the season.

It was sealed by a second-half penalty from James Beattie after Brett Ormerod had been adjudged to have been brought down by Enckelman, who was promptly sent off.

Villa come to St Mary's tomorrow on the back of four straight defeats and desperate to pick up some points.

Niemi added: "We beat them last time we played against them 1-0 away from home but they are a huge team with a lot of players. But Dion Dublin's suspension is going to help us because he is still one of the best players in the league in his position.

"They really need the points and will be coming here trying to get all three but it's another home game and we're all expecting a good result again."

ARE YOU A SAINTS FAN LIVING AWAY? CLICK ON OUR 'SAINTS ABROAD' LINK AND TELL US WHO YOU ARE.