Scott Parker looking forward to testing his side against Premier League opposition

Scott Parker is eager to see his team rise to the challenge as they face Premier League opposition in Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Transcript

00:00The plan is that, like I said, the plan is to be competitive in this competition.

00:05You know, we've got a big fixture away from home against a very good side.

00:10I'd like us to take this competition and stay in it as long as we can, really.

00:15I think for everyone, for us as a group, for fan base and us as a football club,

00:20there's nothing better than going on a really good cup run.

00:24And our ambition is to try and do that.

00:26It gives us an opportunity, like I said, to freshen things up,

00:30give other boys an opportunity as well in this competition.

00:32So hopefully we can do that, Scott.

00:35A big test for us, of course, a team that obviously came out of our division last year,

00:41added in the quality, what that brings.

00:43So there'll be another step up for us and a good marker for us.

00:46And I don't probably look at it too much like that as a test for us,

00:50what we're going to have against a very good side.

00:52And we're looking forward to that.

00:54That gives us an opportunity as well, to maybe give other players an opportunity.

01:00But of course, there's a marker there, or certainly there's a tough test ahead of us.

01:06I think it gives you an opportunity maybe to switch off from the league,

01:09but it's a competitive game of football.

01:11And it's a competition that holds a lot of value to me as a coach,

01:16and one that we want to do very well in.

01:18We're on a current run of 19-18 unbeaten in all competitions.

01:23And we're going into this game wanting to be ultra competitive,

01:26while also gives us an opportunity to maybe freshen things up.

01:30And like I said, to use squad a bit as well,

01:32and maybe Southampton see it the same way.

01:34I'm not sure, I can't speak for them.

01:37But fundamentally, this is a competitive game.

01:39We want to go there and give the best version of ourselves.