LOMANA Lua Lua is bracing himself for a hostile St Mary’s reception as he prepares to face Saints for the first time since Fratton Park’s infamous last Hampshire derby.

The former Portsmouth striker returned to English football two months ago when he joined Blackpool on a free transfer, having played Champions League football for Olympiakos since leaving Fratton Park in August 2007.

Lua Lua scored 19 goals in 62 Premier League starts during his two-and-a-half years with Pompey.

Among that haul was his two-goal salvo in Saints’ 4-1 defeat at Fratton Park in April 2005, a result that went a long way to ending the club’s 27-year stay in the top-flight.

Saints were already 2-1 down when Lua Lua struck twice in five minutes for Pompey, soon after Henri Camara had pulled a goal back, during the most frantic start to a game between Hampshire’s arch-rivals.

Brought down by Antti Niemi, Lua Lua won the penalty from which Yakubu fired Pompey into a fourth-minute lead.

He restored Pompey’s two-goal advantage by hooking in the third following Niemi’s rush of blood and then fired in an unstoppable fourth via the inside of a post from outside the area.

Shortly afterwards, Lua Lua limped off with a hamstring injury he insisted was not sustained during the acrobatic celebration that followed.

But serious damage to Saints’ survival chances was inflicted during those high-octane 27 minutes.

Saints were officially relegated by Manchester United at St. Mary's three weeks later, but Lua Lua’s strikes went a long way to shredding what was left of the squad’s belief.

Later this month, Saints will return to Fratton Park for the first time since that fateful day.

But Lua Lua, now 30, will renew acquaintances with the red-and-white stripes for the first time this weekend.

And he should not be surprised if he is made to feel unwelcome when he makes his first St Mary’s appearance in the Tangerine colours of another famous coastal club.

His two goals in five starts for Blackpool both came on his full debut, a 5-0 demolition of Leeds at Elland Road last month. But it is his Fratton Park brace against Saints seven seasons ago that will be remembered by most fans present at St Mary’s on Saturday.

“I don’t know how good the memories of their fans are but I remember that last time I played them and it was a bad day for them because of what the result meant,” said Lua Lua, who will be up against a Saints team heading in the opposite direction to the class of 04/05.

“I’ve been very impressed with how they have done this year and they have had some great results, especially at home, and they look a very strong team.

“So Southampton will be a good test but we are certainly not scared. Everyone in football is beatable.”