Mark Hughes accepts his improved Southampton defence will have to be at their very best to thwart Manchester City's attack on Sunday.
The Saints boss has been pleased with his backline of late as they have stemmed the flow of goals going past them by recording clean sheets in successive goalless draws against Bournemouth and Newcastle respectively.
That was the basis of our work in the last few weeks. It has allowed us to have a platform and has added to the confidence in the group.
Mark Hughes
However, Hughes is well aware that a game against defending champions, City, at the Etihad Stadium represents a huge jump in terms of the quality of their opponents.
He said: "That was the basis of our work in the last few weeks. It has allowed us to have a platform and has added to the confidence in the group.
"We have given up few clear-cut chances to the two teams we have played, which is clearly good for us.
"We are playing City at the weekend and need to be at our best with our defensive work."
Hughes is hoping the Saints' attacking players can start to shine on the back of the team's new-found defensive solidity.
He added: "The fact we have been working on other things defensively in the past few weeks, that has helped us and given us a platform to be more creative at the top end of the field, which will allow us the confidence to commit more players forwards.
"We have created enough chances, but there is a little bit of anxiety, sometimes passing when we should shoot and shooting when we should pass.
"It is just that little bit of guile you need at the top end of the pitch that will turn half-chances into clear-cut ones."
Southampton are 28/1 to record their first Premier League win since 1st September, while City are 1/9 to come out on top and the draw is 10/1.
View all Soccer betting
Mark Hughes accepts his improved Southampton defence will have to be at their very best to thwart Manchester City's attack on Sunday.
The Saints boss has been pleased with his backline of late as they have stemmed the flow of goals going past them by recording clean sheets in successive goalless draws against Bournemouth and Newcastle respectively.
That was the basis of our work in the last few weeks. It has allowed us to have a platform and has added to the confidence in the group.
Mark Hughes
However, Hughes is well aware that a game against defending champions, City, at the Etihad Stadium represents a huge jump in terms of the quality of their opponents.
He said: "That was the basis of our work in the last few weeks. It has allowed us to have a platform and has added to the confidence in the group.
"We have given up few clear-cut chances to the two teams we have played, which is clearly good for us.
"We are playing City at the weekend and need to be at our best with our defensive work."
Hughes is hoping the Saints' attacking players can start to shine on the back of the team's new-found defensive solidity.
He added: "The fact we have been working on other things defensively in the past few weeks, that has helped us and given us a platform to be more creative at the top end of the field, which will allow us the confidence to commit more players forwards.
"We have created enough chances, but there is a little bit of anxiety, sometimes passing when we should shoot and shooting when we should pass.
"It is just that little bit of guile you need at the top end of the pitch that will turn half-chances into clear-cut ones."
Southampton are 28/1 to record their first Premier League win since 1st September, while City are 1/9 to come out on top and the draw is 10/1.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com