Dean Hammond believes that Saints will enjoy working with Dean Wilkins.
The team skipper has known the club's current caretaker manager for some eleven years, and is confident that the hard work his 'mentor' puts in, will soon be rewarded at Saints.
"I've worked with Dean before, he's a very good manager and a good coach, the boys like him around the place, so we're in very good hands," Hammond affirmed.
"He's very detailed in what he does and covers all bases, so we'll be well prepared. I've known Dean for years, he was my youth team coach and then six years later he was my manager at Brighton, so he's been a massive influence on my career as I've known him since I was 16.
"I know he's very good at what he does. It wasn't his fault on Tuesday we were prepared as we should be and the training had been good, it has again since so we'll be ready for Saturday, but it's down to the players."
The former Colchester captain reflected on the events of the past week, and says that the team remain unmoved on their objectives for the campaign.
"We want to have a successful season. We put the foundations in last year to improve the squad and we're very focused and determined to do our job of returning the club to the Championship.
"The decision was taken by the club and at the end of the day it's got nothing to do with the players, because we're employed to play football by the football club and that's what we'll do.
"It was a surprise as we didn't see it coming after the performance and result at Bristol Rovers, but it's in the past, there's nothing we can do about it and we want to try and achieve things this season, so we've got to start doing that with a winning performance on Saturday."
Rochdale are the visitors to St. Mary's this weekend, and Hammond hopes that in the absence of two key players - Adam Lallana and Lee Barnard who are injured and suspended respectively - others will step into the side for a difficult looking fixture.
"They will be a tough team to play against because they'll have the momentum from last year when they were promoted. They've started this year well and they were unlucky against Birmingham in the Carling Cup, a game I watched on TV. They play some good football so it will be a tough test for us, but obviously we're at home and we want to win.
"We've played well so far this season and it hasn't fallen for us other than at Bristol Rovers, but the boys are bright and we want to do it for ourselves, as well as for our fans. In Adam and Barney's absence, there are obviously other players in the squad who are very good, so someone else will get a chance and hopefully for them, they'll take their chance."
