Dan Harding is fully focused on tonight's game and hopes to maintain the resilient side of Saints' game.

The left sided defender, who slotted in at right back against MK Dons on Saturday, has praised the effort from the squad in training, and believes that the desire to keep it tight at the back is now showing in matches.

"We've found a formula that seems to be getting us good results at the back and whoever comes into the side just slots into that formula, so it works," he told Saints Player.

"We've worked hard and we're starting to get to know each other now, which has come from hard work together on the training ground.

"We've done a lot of work over the season with Wally Downes and by looking at the DVDs as well we can see it's all starting to come together.

"Throughout the whole season it's been a happy changing room. We want to do well as a team and as a Club which is what we're trying to do at the moment.

"There's no point in going out there on Tuesday thinking about Sunday though, because if you make a few mistakes then the manager might think, 'I don't want him in my team for the big game,' so people are still fighting for their shirts week in, week out which makes us play better."

Saints go into tonight's game fresh from a fine performance at MK Dons and Harding is anticipating a decent encounter at St. Mary's this evening.

"From our point of view it was a very good weekend, but we know that we've just got to concentrate on what we do, we've set our goals for the end of the season and a 3-0 win away at MK Dons is another one ticked off.

"We're a fantastic team at home and the people that come to watch us will be thinking that, but they (Hartlepool) will be playing for the three points as well so it should be a good game and we'll win."

And with the current injury problems Saints have at right back, the former Brighton man has no problems helping out there again if required.

"We'd had a few injuries, the manager spoke to me on Saturday and I was more than happy to play there for the team. We've got a lot of good right backs at the Club and they all seem to be injured at the same time which is unfortunate.

"The gaffer has put across to us what he wants and the players know that now, so we know what we're aiming to do."