Chris Lines believes Bristol Rovers can put their league woes behind them and complete a quick double over Southampton tomorrow – if they keep Rickie Lambert quiet.

Midfielder Lines is expected to be recalled to the Pirates' starting line-up for the first round clash at the Memorial Stadium after coming off the bench to score their late consolation goal in last Saturday's 2-1 defeat at MK Dons.

He had been taken off on a stretcher having sustained a leg injury in the game against Yeovil and consequently missed the 4-0 drubbing by Leeds that followed.

The weekend reverse at the Dons made it five losses in a row for Paul Trollope's men, but Lines says it is vital the players put that bad run out of their minds when they take on the Saints.

"We can't afford to dwell on what has happened to us in the league recently," said Lines. "We have to forget about those five games because if we look at where we are in the table, a couple of wins can soon push us right back up there."This is a cup game and anything can happen, so we have to go into it full of confidence."

Rovers shaded a five-goal thriller when the teams met at St Mary's in late September, Andy Williams scoring a spectacular stoppage-time winner after the visitors had twice fought back from behind.

"We went to their stadium as underdogs despite their league position and came out on top – deservedly so," said Lines.

"They are one of the best teams in our league so it will be a tough game, but we beat them away so there's no reason we can't do it at home as well."

Lambert netted one of Southampton's goals and set up the other that night, and Lines knows the in-form striker will be desperate to make amends against the club he left in a £1 million move at the start of the season.

The Scouse marksman netted both of Saints' goals in their 2-2 draw against Leyton Orient last weekend to take his tally for the season to 12 – four of them in his last four games.

"Lambo's been scoring a few goals recently so hopefully our back four can keep it tight and not give him any chances," said Lines.

"We know from previous experience that if he gets one, he'll probably take it. If we can keep him quiet, we've got every chance."

Trollope has hinted that he may stick with Rovers' new-look formation tomorrow. The Pirates adopted a 4-5-1 line-up when they started their game at MK Dons last weekend.

The manager said: "It is a modern system that a lot of teams employ – and Southampton have used it in every game since they played us.

"You can look at it as a 4-5-1, but we certainly looked at it as a 4-3-3.

"We ended up with more players in the box for crosses than we have had for a long time, we had wide players who were receiving the ball higher, and we had midfield players pressing the ball higher up the pitch than in previous games.

"It is a system that Doncaster got out of the division with, and still employ to good effect.

"It is something we used on Saturday and it is a possibility for Friday. We are not going to give too much away at the moment, but it is another string to our bow."