SAINTS will go to Fratton Park to face a Pompey side packed with Premier League experience in this Sunday’s south coast derby.

Michael Appleton’s squad is set to boast as many as ten players who have previously featured in the top flight.

Between them, those names have combined for more than 600 Premier League appearances.

For Saints, however, it is a different story.

At best, Nigel Adkins will be able to call on six players who have experience in the top level of English football – with just 80 appearances between them.

And with Richard Chaplow a serious injury doubt, and Danny Butterfield rarely featuring, that number is likely to be even less.

But, despite their lack of top-flight experience, it is Saints – and not Pompey – who are currently chasing the Premier League dream.

Adkins’ men lead the Championship, and have opened up a cavernous 17-point gap to their arch-rivals, who are way down in 16th.

Pompey legend Steve Claridge believes the Fratton Park outfit have underachieved – but he has warned Saints they have enough quality to harm them this weekend.

“Portsmouth have got good players at the club, there’s no doubt about it,” he said.

“They’ve got players on very decent money, so they should be good players.

“They’ve got lots of Premiership experience, and they’ve under-achieved, it’s as simple as that.

“If you get it sorted out there’s no doubt you’ll have a decent club at that level.”

Pompey boast the likes of Benjani, Hayden Mullins and Aaron Mokoena in their squad – all who have made more than 100 Premier League appearances.

With David Connolly almost certain to miss out, Kelvin Davis, with 33 top-flight appearances, is likely to be the most experienced in the Saints party.

Former Pompey boss Claridge insists Saints will go into the match as favourites – despite the clubs’ differing form.

Adkins’ side have hit their first rocky patch of the season, winning just one of their last four matches.

Ominously, they go into Sunday’s showdown on the back of defeats in their previous two away games.

Pompey, on the other hand, are enjoying a mid-season resurgence.

Appleton’s men have won their last two matches and, worryingly for Saints, have also gone five games unbeaten on home soil.

But Claridge believes it is the visitors who still retain the slight edge.

“Pompey have found a little bit of form,” said the 45-yearold, who made more than 100 appearances as a player for the club.

“They’ve won their last two, and Southampton have just dropped off their high standards, shall we say.

“I don’t know how much that will level the playing field.

“But I don’t think there’s anybody who’s going to have an easy game in this division.

“Southampton will probably go into it favourites, because of the form they have been in all season.

“But Portsmouth are at home and they’ve got players who can raise their game and be a match for anyone.”

Claridge never tasted the atmosphere of a south coast derby as a player or manager.

But the Portsmouth-born BBC pundit is well aware how intimidating a venue Fratton Park will be for Saints this weekend.

“It will be a difficult place on a day like that, because the atmosphere will be fantastic,”

he said.

“They’re always great games and, if you’re from one city or the other then there’s always a little bit of extra spice.

“If you’re a Southampton boy it’s always going to be a little bit spicy if you go to Portsmouth, and vice versa.”

But Claridge would not be drawn on where he thinks the points will be going.

“Derbies are very difficult to predict – sometimes form goes out the window,” he said.

“It’s a very even league, there’s lots and lots of surprises and all I know is that it will be a decent occasion.”