SOUTHAMPTON striker Brett Ormerod will risk the wrath of his family and friends by attempting to shoot down Blackburn Rovers at the St Mary's Stadium tomorrow.

A host of a familar faces from East Lancashire are planning to make the trip south to see the Blackburn-born hit-man face his former club.

But Ormerod knows if he scores the winner then he could be in for a hot reception because the majority of his visitors are staunch Rovers fans.

"This is a big game for me because I've got a lot of family and friend coming down here for it, but they'll all be supporting Blackburn, of course," said Ormerod.

"So I could come in for some stick if I happen to score, especially if it's the winner."

Had things panned out differently, the 26-year-old could have been lining up for the game in a Rovers shirt after coming through the ranks at Ewood as a schoolboy.

However, his dream of playing for the club he had supported since childhood was wrecked when they took the decision to release him after he had served his apprenticeship.

It would have been easy to feel sorry for himself at that point as he coped with the pain of rejection.

But, instead of wallowing in self-pity, he swiftly picked himself up via spells at Accrington Stanley and Blackpool, and now he's intent on proving his doubters wrong by becoming a force with the Saints in the Premiership.

"Of course, it was disappointing when I got released by Rovers but, at the end of the day, it wasn't meant to be so you've got to get on with the rest of your life," said Ormerod.

"And I'm currently loving every minute of it down here so I wouldn't change any thing.

"Gordon Strachan has been brilliant with me and I'll always respect him because he was the guy who gave me my big chance to play at this level.

"He's got a lot of new ideas as well as a tremendous enthusiasm for the game and that rubs off on everyone else.

"I just hope I can pay him back for what he has done for me by scoring lots of goals."

Judging by his form so far, that shouldn't be a problem.

Ormerod has already scored six times this season to dispel any theories about him struggling to make the step up from the Second Division to the Premiership.

And that has been one of the key factors in the Saints' surge up the Premiership table where they currently sit in a comfortable mid-table position.

"We've had a decent start. Obviously, losing in the Cup at Liverpool the other night was very disappointing but we've been playing some good football in the league overall," said the striker.

"And I'm quite happy with my own form, too.

"I've managed to chip in with a few goals and I feel I've been contributing in other ways as well.

"So things are going well on both fronts at the moment but we are not getting carried away.

"I know it's an old cliche but it's a case of taking each game as it comes."

So what about the visit of Rovers tomorrow?

Southampton are currently unbeaten at home this season and Ormerod has no intention of surrendering that proud record against his boyhood heroes.

"Obviously, it's extra special that it's Blackburn and the same applies for James Beattie as well.

"But we are currently unbeaten at home and that's a record we are desperate to keep going for as long as possible.

"I know a few of their players, in particular David Dunn with us both being from Great Harwood, but I haven't really spoken to him much about the game.

"I think he's staying down here after the game, though, so we'll have plenty of time to catch up then.

"We grew up together in Great Harwood and it's a big thing for us that we come from the same town.

"I seem to have known him forever because everyone knows everyone else in Harwood.

"His school was on the same road I used to live on so our paths have always crossed down the years."

For 90 minutes tomorrow, however, their loyalties will be divided.