Southampton and West Bromwich Albion face off at St Mary's on Saturday with both sides looking to climb into the top half of the Premier League table.

Only goal difference separates the two teams after 21 games of the season, and victory for either could lift them into the top 10.

Southampton

Southampton come into this match finding themselves equidistant between the top four and the relegation zone, but many fans will still have their eyes looking firmly up the table.

The Saints were tipped as potential European contenders once again this term following their exploits last season, but it has been a rocky road for them at times.

An eight-match unbeaten run between September and November that included six wins raised hopes that they would push for the top six again, only for them to lose eight of their 11 outings in all competitions since and drop into the bottom half of the Premier League table.

It has, admittedly, been a tough run for Ronald Koeman's side, with nine of those 11 outings coming against teams currently residing in the top half of the table, but things do not get any easier in the immediate future with Manchester United, Arsenal and West Ham United next up after this weekend.

The Saints must, then, find a way to get results from those matches, and Koeman will be hopeful that a 2-0 triumph over Watford on Wednesday night is the first step towards that happening.

That match was the first time that they had played at St Mary's since hammering Arsenal 4-0 in a stunning result on Boxing Day, and the challenge for the team now will be to back that up with a third consecutive home league win for the first time this season.

Despite their league position, only five teams have picked up more home points than the Saints this season, while they have won three and lost none of their four home outings against sides currently below them in the table.

They will go into the contest as favourites, and with Watford not in action until Monday and Everton facing an away trip to Chelsea, there is every chance that Southampton could end the day back in the top half.

Recent form: LLWLLW
Recent form (all competitions): LWLLLW

West Brom

West Brom will arrive on the South Coast with their eyes on the same prize, however, and recent results suggest that they are capable of claiming it.

The Baggies are unbeaten in their last four games in all competitions and are looking to make it five in a row for the first time this season on their second away trip in the space of just four days.

The first of those will go down as a successful one, with West Brom twice coming from behind to earn a 2-2 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, James McClean getting the all-important second equaliser with just four minutes left on the clock.

West Brom have not had much to cheer about on the road this season, though, failing to win any of their last five games away from home and netting just eight times on their travels all season - only Newcastle United have scored fewer.

Indeed, home and away, goals have been a concern for Tony Pulis this season, yet he has refused to turn to Saido Berahino from the start. The young striker, who has again been linked with a move away from the club this month, has been named on the bench in each of West Brom's last 11 matches.

Only Swansea City and Aston Villa have scored fewer goals than the Baggies this season, and only Villa have had fewer shots on targets than West Brom's 69 in 21 games.

Whether Pulis looks to bring in a striker as a result of that remains to be seen, but a failure to take advantage of their upcoming fixtures could prove costly for his side towards the latter stages of the campaign.

Including this weekend's match, West Brom's next five games are all against sides currently in the bottom half of the table. With nine of their final 12 games then coming against top-half opposition, the points haul between now and the end of February could be crucial.

Recent form: DLLWWD
Recent form (all competitions): LLWWDD

Team News

Fraser Forster made his first appearance in 10 months during the win over Watford and, having kept a clean sheet, he is likely to start again with Maarten Stekelenburg still a doubt with a tight hamstring.

Jay Rodriguez and Florin Gardos remain longer-term absentees for the Saints, but they will be boosted by the return of Victor Wanyama from suspension.

Dusan Tadic will be hopeful of a starting role having come off the bench to score in midweek, but Graziano Pelle may be forced to settle for a place among the subs behind Shane Long once again.

The Baggies, meanwhile, have just one injury concern as James Morrison was forced off early against Chelsea with a hamstring strain that is likely to keep him out of this match.

Craig Gardner replaced him in midweek and scored, so Pulis could bring the midfielder in from the start this weekend.

Southampton possible starting lineup:
Forster; Cedric, Van Dijk, Fonte, Bertrand; Romeu, Clasie, Davis, Mane, Tadic; Long

West Brom possible starting lineup:
Myhill; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Evans; Brunt, Fletcher, Yacob, Gardner, McClean; Rondon

Head To Head

This fixture does not have a great history of goals, with Southampton having failed to score in six of their last eight league games against West Brom and the Baggies also drawing a blank in five of the last eight meetings.

Indeed, among fixtures that have been played at least 10 times in Premier League history, this one has the second-lowest average of goals per game (1.27), behind Bolton Wanderers vs. Southampton (1.17).

Predictably, then, the reverse fixture at The Hawthorns in September ended goalless, as did the corresponding fixture last season.

We say: Southampton 1-0 West Brom

Southampton have picked up impressive back-to-back home victories in the league now, and they should take plenty of confidence from that into this game. West Brom will be in a good mood heading into the match too, but their away record of late has not been too encouraging. We are going for another low-scoring contest, but Southampton to edge it.