After losing so poorly at home to the blue half of Manchester on Monday, Saints will be desperate to recapture their away form tomorrow - but they will have to do without their central defensive rock Dean Richards again.

Richards has a badly-bruised heel and is still suffering from Achilles tendonitis and has no chance of making the line-up at Old Trafford. Jo Tessem's foot injury has at last healed and he is expected to return to the side in place of Stuart Ripley - provided another key figure, Matthew Oakley, can win his race against time against a bruised calf.

Oakley is being given as long as possible to prove his fitness and will be given a work-out on Saturday morning before Saints boss Glenn Hoddle will make a decision.

The signs at present are promising with Oakley reported to be improving by the day - and with Matt Le Tissier ruled out by a knee injury for this huge challenge going into the champions' backyard, his part to play will be crucial, as Paul Jones appreciates.

The Welsh keeper said: "It's vital we keep up our good away form.

"If we had beaten City then it would've shot us up the table.

"There are not many points separating teams in the lower half of the table, but we have put ourselves under a bit of pressure.

"We need to grind out a result to keep us ticking over and our away form has been good, so we certainly won't be afraid of going to Old Trafford."