Two rising Eastleigh stars tonight get the chance of the big-time as they line up for Saints reserves against Derby at Burton.

Saints are giving a trial to 21-year-old centre-back Lee Bright and 20-year-old striker Robbie Matthews.

Both have been recommended by former Southampton midfielder David Hughes who is now assistant manager at the Wessex League pace-setters.

Hughes said: "Bright is a tall left-footed centre-half who is very cultured on the ball and quick. He is a good player.

"Matthews is a tall rangy centre-forward who is very fast and quite deceptive. When he gets going I have not seen anyone to match him at our level. He has scored a lot of goals and played extremely well.

"It is very difficult of course to gauge the step up because there is a vast difference, but right from the start I saw enough there to know that with age on their side there is a chance that both can be coached into playing at a higher standard than they are now.

"Whether that is the Premiership I don't know but there are three more professional divisions and the conference and a couple of higher non-league divisions than us.

"If they find they are out of their depth it just means that on current form they are not good enough for the eighth best team in the country!

"I just hope they do themselves justice.

"It is good that they are going straight into a game because it can be quite over-aweing for young lads to go and train with household names that they see on the television each week.

"Playing is second nature to footballers so they will go and get on with it. And it helps that Southampton are putting out a young side so they will fit in.

"The good thing is that Saints have not just taken my word for it. Dennis Rofe has been down to watch them a couple of times and they played against Saints Reserves in pre-season so Steve Wigley has seen them in action."

Saints are fielding a young side with only goalkeeper Alan Blayney having been involved with the first-team squad.

Saints Res: Blayney, Baird, Hunt, Bright, Williamson, Crowell, Howard, Gleeson, Matthews, A Davies, Surman. Subs: Gillett, G Williams, Green, Macdonald, R Jones.