Mauricio Pochettino is expecting Tottenham to pose a very dangerous threat tomorrow, despite the turmoil enveloping the north London club.

Spurs visit St Mary’s with Tim Sherwood in caretaker charge, after Andre Villas-Boas was dismissed in the wake of last Sunday’s 5-0 home defeat against Liverpool.

Saints trail Tottenham by three points, but will leapfrog them with a victory.

While they might be expected to take advantage of the turbulence being experienced at White Hart Lane right now, Pochettino is adamant Spurs will be a tough obstacle to overcome.

“Tottenham is still going to be a very dangerous side, even without their normal manager, but also whenever a team changes manager there’s players that want to impress the new manager, that want to get into the side,” said the Saints boss.

“Perhaps players that haven’t been playing as regularly will want to impress the new manager and get into the side, so it will be an interesting game from that point of view.

“It’s a team with quality players, with great players.

“Of course, they’re going to have new ideas. The new manager’s going to try and impose a new style, a new way of playing.

“They won’t have much time to actually do that, but already from what we gathered of the (Capital One Cup) game against West Ham we were able to see that there are some new ideas that are being put into place.”

It remains to be seen if Sherwood will land the job on a full-time basis as the likes of Gus Hiddink and former England managers Fabio Capello and Glenn Hoddle continue to be linked to the job.

If a new man is brought in, the former Blackburn midfielder revealed he would not be keen on remaining involved in first-team affairs.

“That isn't me to be honest, I wouldn't want to do that,” he said when asked about assisting another manager.

“I don't think (chairman) Daniel (Levy) is linking them [other names], it is the press who are putting the names there. “They are all good managers and we have had good managers at this club, sometimes it has got to fit, the club and the manager have to be compatible.

“It is not always about the biggest name, he may have done well at another club but it doesn't mean he is going to do well at this one.

“It is up to the chairman and the board to make the correct decision which is right for the long-term future of this club, it isn't good to keep changing managers.”

Sherwood also said he believes the only thing that matters to a football club is winning games after Villas-Boas spoke of working on long-term projects during both his time at White Hart Lane and his ill-fated nine-month spell as Chelsea manager.

But Sherwood, whose first match at the helm finished in a 2-1 defeat to West Ham in the Capital One Cup quarter-final on Wednesday, has a more simplistic outlook on how best to stay in a job and achieve the ambitions of a club.

“I’m just getting on with the job and trying to enjoy it as much as I can,” he said. “We will have to speak about long-term with the chairman it is his decision, if it was down to me I would be getting a 10-year contract now but football doesn't work like that.

“It is all about getting results. I listen to managers all the time talk about the project. The project is you win games or you get sacked - end of story."

Despite his lack of managerial experience, Sherwood feels he has plenty to offer given his long-standing connections to Spurs and his work with the development of young talent coming through the ranks.

“I know all about the football club, I played here and it is my club,” he added.

“I know what the supporters want and what they demand but it is not my decision to make the appointment.

“I know the players and the good young talent that is coming through the club. I need to talk about philosophies, what we are looking to do, buy players or bring them through.”

Sherwood will be buoyed by the return from suspension of skipper Michael Dawson.

But he is still without fellow defenders Jan Vertonghen and Younes Kaboul as well as the suspended Paulinho, while England winger Andros Townsend is also missing through injury.