DROPPED Southampton stopper Paul Jones is confident he will keep his Wales shirt - despite being frozen out by Gordon Strachan.

The 35-year-old keeper is in line to earn his 27th cap against Italy at the Millennium Stadium on Wednesday night.

And he hopes that another solid show for his country will persuade Strachan to rethink his decision to drop him from the Saints first team.

Just weeks after returning from the scene of Wales' triumphant 2-0 opening Euro 2004 qualifying victory over Finland in Helsinki, Jones was faded out after a blunder at West Brom.

His performance at the Hawthorns was in stark contest to the one he produced at the Olympic Stadium where his stunning save from Sheffield Wednesday striker Shefki Kuqi denied the Finns a second half equaliser.

Ironically, his opposite number on the night, Antti Niemi, has taken the goalkeeper's shirt since arriving at St Mary's in a £2m deal.

But Jones has vowed to win his place back and believes that a clean sheet against the Italians, with the likes of Juventus hitman Alessando Del Piero in attack, could hold the key to his future on the south coast.

"I was really disappointed to be dropped because I had played really well during the six or sevens games before that mistake," admitted Jones. "But I was instantly dropped and there was nothing I could do about it.

"This, though, could be my chance, along with other players who are out of favour at their clubs like John Hartson (Celtic) and Mark Delaney, (Aston Villa) to say: 'Hey, we're playing in internationals so pick us!'"

Jones, who made his debut for Wales against Scotland in 1997, insists he'll be in top form in Cardiff on the night.

"I haven't lost any of my sharpness and have been training hard," he promised.

"It's the kind of night when you say 'if you can't get up for this one, then you might as well pack it in!'"

Wales boss Mark Hughes has Middlesbrough's Mark Crossley, Nottingham Forest's Darren Ward and Grimsby's Danny Coyne at his disposal, but for now is sticking by Jones.