NIGEL Pearson has not even been at St Mary's for a week ... but he has already been hit by the Saints centre half injury curse.

It was a regular occurrence under former boss George Burley to find that there were no central defenders fit to play, leading him to theorise the position may be cursed.

Pearson was only appointed on Monday but is already sweating on the fitness of Darren Powell and Andrew Davies for tomorrow's trip to Scunthorpe.

Though he is hopeful the pair will be fit, Pearson is having to patch up several problems from the midweek defeat by Plymouth.

He said: "We've got a number of players who have picked up knocks.

"Both centre backs - Darren Powell and Andrew Davies - are having treatment.

"We're hopeful that they'll be fit.

"We'll just try and patch them up and get them out there.

"At this point in time it's about how much the players want it.

"I can assure you that having been round here this week - and I know we've come in for a lot of criticism - I've seen some very encouraging signs.

"Hopefully we can carry that forward and get results."

Scunthorpe are bottom of the Championship with Saints just six points off the drop zone.

Both clubs are viewing it as a huge game and Pearson knows to expect a hard-working approach from Nigel Adkins' team.

"They've had a tough year but I've spoken to a number of people at other clubs in the Championship, and one or two of the big clubs as well, and they've had a difficult game there," he said.

"It won't be easy but we've got to make sure that we match the endeavours of the opposition first and then give ourselves the best chance of winning the game.

"They're a very hard-working side and they'll come out of the blocks at us.

"At most of the games at their place they do play quite a bit of football, they play quickly, the tempo's high.

"I don't know whether Geoff Horsfield's playing but I know him and I know that they're workers.

"We've got to match that.

"For us it's about matching them and us playing as close to our maximum as we can.

"Tactics are one thing, but players have to make sure they are totally up for the game and play at their maximum."

Horsfield, the on-loan Sheffield United forwarrd, would have missed the midweek trip to Wolves had the game not been frozen off.

Horsfield injured a hamstring during last Friday's game at Stoke where United led 2-0 only to lose 3-2 at the Britannia Stadium.

Providing he recovers, Horsfield will provide the physical presence up front previously lacking in manager Nigel Adkins' side.

Ex-Stoke man Martin Paterson is the club's top scorer with 13 goals - 10 more than anyone else.

One man used to scoring against Stoke is midfielder Grant McCann, who netted twice at St Mary's for Barnsley last September.

But McCann is suspended tomorrow, while regular right back Cliff Byrne is doubtful having recently taken a whack on the leg he broke last autumn.