THE man who remains Saints' record signing returns to St Mary's for the first time since being part of the post-George Burley arrival exodus.

Rory Delap, Saints' £4m addition from Derby in the summer of 2001, will be playing only his fifth game for Stoke in the early-season top v bottom' encounter.

And he doesn't expect a good reception from the fans who hailed his arrival six years ago as the start of an exciting new dawn at Saints' new stadium.

The Republic of Ireland international broke his leg in only his second game for Stoke last season, ironically against the club he had just left, Sunderland.

Delap had been one of 12 players who had left Saints in January 2006 - Burley's first full month at the club since replacing Harry Redknapp.

But Delap has played all three of Stoke's league and cup games this season, including Coca-Cola wins against Cardiff (1-0) and Charlton (2-1) that has taken Tony Pulis' side into top spot.

"There's a little bit of extra pressure and desire going back to an old club," said Delap. "You'll be speaking to their players in the bar afterwards and you don't want to be having a bad game.

"My memories of Southampton were good until the last year when we got relegated, didn't do so well in the Championship and I left in such a hurry I didn't get a chance to say goodbye.

"For that reason I don't suppose the reception from the fans will be that great, but you just have to take it with a pinch of salt".

Delap added: "We've had a great start and we obviously want to continue that, but they'll be desperate to win, especially at home.

"My fitness is fine, it's just my sharpness that is only about 60 per cent at the moment.

"I just need games now to get that back".

Delap could be one of three ex-Saints returning to St Mary's.

Danny Higginbotham, a target for Sunderland boss Roy Keane, may return after missing last week's win against Charlton due to an ankle injury sustained in the Carling Cup penalty shoot-out loss to League Two Rochdale.

And Ricardo Fuller will lead the attack after opening his goal account for 2007/08 against Charlton.

He later limped off with a hamstring injury but has trained all week and that should ensure Jon Parkin, the man who replaced him against the Addicks and who scored the winner, starts on the bench again.

Right-back Stephen Wright is definitely out with an ankle injury. On loan Manchester United defender Ryan Shawcross, who has been playing at centre half, could move to right back allowing Higginbotham to come back in and partner former Christchurch defender Jody Craddock, the centre half who is on a month's loan from Wolves.

Saints v Stoke - three pages of previews in today's Daily Echo.