Les Parry hopes Southampton's rich vein of form will bring the best out of his players.

The Saints visit Prenton Park on Saturday (kick off 3pm) on the back of successive five goal hauls against Walsall and Huddersfield, but Parry is confident of getting a result.

The Manager told Tranmere Player: "They've bagged five in each of their last two games and had a really impressive win against Huddersfield. Anyone who can put five past Huddersfield is a half decent team. They are the form team, and that seems to be the pattern at the moment. We played Leyton Orient who I think were second in the form table, we played Huddersfield who were up there and now we play Southampton.

"I hope Southampton's form will focus our lads - they'll know that if they're not on the game we'll be in trouble. Like most sides near the bottom they tend to raise their game against the better sides and I'm hoping they do that again on Saturday."

Parry said his defenders would need to keep a close eye on Rickie Lambert, the division's top scorer and the striker he rates as the best in League One.

He added: "What makes the best striker in any division is that they score more goals than anybody. He's got a bit more about him in that he's a big lad, he uses his height really well and he strikes a marvellous ball. There aren't many centre forwards of his type and build who take free kicks and consistently score from them. You can't give him a yard because he will shoot whenever he can."

Meanwhile, Parry said Ash Taylor and Kithson Bain were unavailable for the match due to injury but Bas Savage would take at least a place on the bench with Terry Gornell out with the mumps.

He continued: "Bas played 90 minutes again in the Reserves and did really well. Terry is recovering but he's still not right. Bas will be on the bench if he doesn't start, and we'll be looking to unleash him on Southampton at some point."