Daniel Farke aims to turn up the heat on Southampton rival Ralph Hasenhuttl on Wednesday - but insists it is nothing personal.

The Saints' chief looked to be the next Premier League coach heading through the exit door after an abject 9-0 defeat to Leicester.

Quique Sanchez Flores paid the price for Watford's wretched start to the campaign earlier this week while Tottenham axed Mauricio Pochettino and Everton's Marco Silva's job prospects look bleak.

Farke is an admirer of Hasenhuttl's previous work back in Germany, but will head to St Mary's intent on adding to the Canaries' four points from the last six.

"It's good for the table, but also good for the mood and the confidence," he said. "On this level, you can't expect to win each game. If you can't win then have this mentality not to get beat and pick up a point to keep the run going.

"I'm not sure you can say two games is a run but we will look to push on now.

"I have met Ralph at Premier League managers' meetings and he's definitely a nice guy. He was also successful during his time in Germany and it's always good to meet him.

"They have relied a lot of the academy to build a special philosophy of how they work within the club. The task for Ralph is to lead this. My fingers are crossed for him, but that takes nothing away from the fact we want to be successful in this game."

City's recent Carrow Road clash with the Hornets was hyped as a pivotal contest at the foot of the table. Events thereafter proved why that was wide of the mark, ahead of another match-up against fellow strugglers.

"A brilliant example. Several people made out it was like a final against relegation. We lost the game and of course the mood was down for one or two days but now just a few weeks later we are several points clear and Watford is on to their next manager after he was sacked," said Farke. "At this moment, these games don't mean as much.

"If it was the 36th game then it's a massive, huge game. It's just too early to predict. Southampton have the potential at any stage to string five or six wins together in a row and then they are immediately back in contention for Europe.

"While a team who is in a brilliant position right now can just as easily lose five or six in a row and be dragged into the relegation battle. It's really too early to judge if Southampton is one of our competitors in the relegation battle.

"Of course it is an important three points but not a final."