THEO Walcott says Saints "need to focus on ourselves" as they prepare for a tricky trip to Stamford Bridge.

After a two-week international break, Ralph Hasenhuttl's men return to Premier League action at Chelsea on Saturday (3pm), looking to make it three wins on the spin.

The Blues have struggled for consistency this term under Frank Lampard, having made a raft of big-money summer signings, but sit a point ahead of Saints.

Walcott is in line for his first Saints appearance since 2006, having completed a deadline-day loan switch from Everton earlier this month.

Chelsea were twice in the past interested in signing Walcott, both before he opted to join Saints and again when he left Hampshire to join Arsenal.

"It will be a tricky game, of course," Walcott told the Daily Echo.

"Chelsea, I feel like they’re in that transition stage where they’ve managed to get some good results recently. It takes time with a lot of new players, but we just need to focus on ourselves really.

"It’s all about what we want to do to affect the game and how we’re going to get a result, as simple as that.

"Chelsea, it is what it is, the Premier League is a tough league to get results but we believe that with the quality, and what I’ve seen so far.

"The standards are set high and there is a competitive edge and work-rate about this group so I’m dead excited to be part of it."