JORDY Clasie insists that Saints have the belief to pick up where they left off before the international break.

Ronald Koeman’s team are on an eight game unbeaten run in all competitions and Clasie reckons that they have the confidence to carry that on against Stoke today in the Premier League, writes Peter Howard.

Saints could go as high as fifth if they defeat Mark Hughes’ side.

“We have to pick up [where we left off],” he said. “The games and how we played before the international break was good.

“The last three games before the international break we got seven points. In two away games, four points.

“We are doing well and have to keep the confidence. We need to believe in our quality for Saturday.”

Twelfth-placed Stoke may prove a tough nut to crack, though, having conceded just three goals in their last six games and not let a goal in since September 12 away from home.

“Of course, we know what we can expect from them,” explained Clasie. “But we watched some clips about Stoke and they’ve done very well in their away games.

“They play very compact and they much creativity and many quality to play football.

“It’s a difficult game Saturday but we play at home and we have to keep doing what we’ve been doing in the last few weeks.”

It will be up to Saints’ attacking spearhead Graziano Pelle, Sadio Mane and Dusan Tadic to pierce the Potters’ armour.

Clasie, who is in-line to make his fourth start in Saints colours, reckons Koeman’s side need to move the ball quickly to get past the Potters backline and get at goalkeeper Jack Butland in the Stoke net.

“They play defensively, they’re very compact, but against every team you’ve got space to play and then you’ve got to play quicker and quicker [to get past them],” he said.

“You have to move the ball from side to side and then you have to wait for the chance that you’ve got or the space that you’ve got the space that they give.

“You have to use it and we have to believe in ourselves.”