Southampton captain Jose Fonte has described Saturday's clash with Tottenham Hotspur as a 'massive game' in his team's season.

The Saints will leapfrog sixth-placed Spurs in the Premier League table this weekend if they earn three points at St Mary's Stadium.

With a top-four finish still mathematically possible, Fonte admits that it is vital for the South Coast side to beat Tottenham.

"We don't need any extra motivation. The game itself is going to be a massive one. We need to move on quickly [from last weekend's defeat to Stoke City]. Tottenham are close in the table and we want to finish above them," he told the club's official website. "We are at home. For us as players it's just another big game against a team that is next to us that we want to beat."

Southampton have lost two of their last three matches in the Premier League.