Glenn Hoddle is urging his Saints side to cast off their fatigues ready for battle with Sheffield United at The Dell tomorrow.

The third round of the AXA sponsored FA Cup has traditionally been a graveyard for big clubs facing lesser opposition.

And the Southampton boss believes that is largely down to the strain of playing so many games over Christmas.

He said: "You tend to get a lot of shocks in the third round and I am sure a lot of that is down to mental and physical fatigue.

"We have played four games in a very short space of time which is ridiculous and the lads were clearly out on their feet in the final minutes at Liverpool.

"But we cannot afford to feel tired tomorrow because it will be a very tough tie and we must make sure we are ready for it and that we do not get turned over.

"That can easily happen at this time of year and we must make sure we are not one of the early casualties.

"Sheffield United will want to prove they are better players and a better team and that will be their motivation. We must make sure we are very professional and deal with that.

"The crowd will expect us to win and that will put pressure on us but we have to play well enough to give them something to cheer and get behind us.

"A home draw is all you can ask for. We have got that and now we have to make it count."

Hoddle hopes to have Dean Richards back in the centre of defence following a virus which kept him out of the two games over New Year.

Richards trained yesterday but was still suffering from the after-effects of the illness. He said: "It really hit me hard. I have lost a fair bit of weight and I am still feeling a bit groggy now."

Hoddle added: "It has taken him a bit longer to recover than we expected. It knocked him for six and we will get the doctor to have a look at him before we make a decision."

However Saints should have Chris Marsden and Mark Draper available following injury. Draper has recovered from a dead leg while Marsden has shaken off a thigh problem and hopes to face his old club.

The battling midfielder, who was 32 on Wednesday, was born and bred in Sheffield and came through the ranks at Bramall Lane.

He said: "They may have been my first club but the only reason I want to play tomorrow is to be back in the team.

"I just want to play and win all the time. I thought I did OK against Coventry and Spurs before I got injured but now I am probably at the back of the queue again.

"We have got nine central midfielders and Trond soltvedt came in against Liverpool and did well so I may have to wait for my chance again."