SAINTS are looking for three points to improve on two draws in tricky matches on the road when they welcome Blackburn Rovers to St Mary's.

Manager Russell Martin and his side are 13 Championship games unbeaten - the club's best record for nearly 40 years - but are falling further outside the top two.

Adam Armstrong will lead Saints out against the team with which he earned his Premier League move two years ago looking to catch top scorer Sammie Szmodics.

Here is how we think Saints will line up to face Blackburn Rovers... 

Goalkeeper/Defence

Martin will almost certainly name stalwarts Gavin Bazunu, Kyle Walker-Peters, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Jan Bednarek in his team to face Rovers. 

Captain Jack Stephens will get a return eventually but it could be only James Bree in for the much-maligned Ryan Manning in terms of changes at the back this weekend. 

Daily Echo: James Bree could be the one change to Russell Martin's defenceJames Bree could be the one change to Russell Martin's defence (Image: Richard Crease)

Midfield

Flynn Downes has been a big miss through illness for the last two fixtures but has trained on both Thursday and Friday and is cleared to return.

He will likely sit behind Will Smallbone and Stuart Armstrong, with the improved Shea Charles and Joe Aribo rested after starts against Watford and Coventry City. 

Attack

Adam Armstrong has netted 12 goals so far this season, registering a goal or assist in each of the last eight, and will look to add to that today.

Sam Edozie scored from the bench at CBS Arena and that could earn him a first start since October, flanking Charly Alcaraz returning to the lineup.

Daily Echo: Sam Edozie scored his third goal of the season from the bench on WednesdaySam Edozie scored his third goal of the season from the bench on Wednesday (Image: Matt Watson - SFC)

Full predicted team:

4-3-3: Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Bree; Downes, Smallbone, S Armstrong; Alcaraz, Edozie, A Armstrong.