KEVIN Phillips is preparing to play the role of Super Sub against Saints at St Mary’s.

The veteran Blackpool striker returns to St Mary’s on Saturday for only the second time since moving to Aston Villa following Saints’ relegation from the Premiership in 2005.

Phillips netted the 77th-minute winner immediately after coming on as Saints lost 2-1 to Birmingham in the Championship in August 2008.

And the 38-year-old is likely to be the main dangerman on Blackpool’s bench this weekend.

Phillips has played as a substitute in Blackpool’s last five Championship matches and scored the winner moments after coming on in the Tangerines’ 1-0 win against MiIlwall last month.

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway believes he will get the best out of the former England striker by continuing to use him as an impact player.

“I’m not so sure that if I play him 90 minutes Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday- Tuesday I am going to see the best of him,” explained Holloway.

“I think whatever cameo performances he does give me, he’ll still score the same amount of goals because that is what he does.

“He is an absolute machine and the most important thing is that we make sure we continue to give him chances.”

After starting Blackpool’s opening 11 league games, scoring five goals in his first seven outings, Phillips has found himself on the bench for the last six weeks.

“I played him an awful lot at the start and he did really well but we’ve had a chat and he has looked at things,” Holloway added.

“I can play him sometimes, I can rest him other occasions ... it is entirely down to me.

“I have got to try and use him as I see fit and how he sees fit.”