Grayson's front pairing are set to go head-to-head with Rickie Lambert and Lee Barnard in a fascinating sub-plot to a key League One match at St Mary's.

* Click here to watch the latest edition of The Boot Room.

Beckford and Becchio have supplied Leeds with 39 goals this season while Lambert and Barnard – one of Grayson's January transfer targets – have amassed 33 in Southampton colours, keeping alive their club's faint hopes of qualifying for the play-offs.

* Click here for read the latest views and opinions of our Leeds United columnists.

Barnard had already scored 17 times for Southend United when he moved to St Mary's in the winter transfer-window, and tomorrow's clash will throw together two outstanding forward lines as Leeds attempt to take another step towards automatic promotion and Southampton bid to climb back towards League One's top six.

* Click here to take a trip down memory lane with our Leeds United action replay.

Beckford and Becchio were instrumental in United's midweek win over Tranmere Rovers, scoring three of the goals in a 4-1 win, and Grayson is confident that his forwards can positively influence the outcome again this weekend.

* Click here to watch latest YEP news and sport video reports.

Grayson said: "I'd back my players in front of their two players every time. Jermaine and Luciano have both got fantastic qualities.

* Click here for latest YEP news and sport picture slideshows.

"There's no getting away from the fact that Lambert and Barnard are good players as well and it'll be an interesting duel.

"But our two were excellent on Tuesday night and they know they have to
replicated that tomorrow if we're going to win again."

Leeds striker Paul Dickov also paid tribute to Beckford and Becchio, saying: "Lambert and Barnard will be a threat but rather than worrying about them, if they watched us the other night then they must have seen the way that Jermaine and Luciano played.

* Click here for latest Leeds Rhinos news.

"Our two will cause them more problems."

Southampton won the bidding war for Barnard in January by offering Southend a six-figure sum plus Matthew Paterson for a striker who was also seriously interesting Leeds.

Grayson said: "We never got that close to signing him.

"We spoke about him, enquired about him, but then he moved on to Southampton.

"He's proved that he can score goals and if we had signed him then I'm sure he would have brought something to the squad, but I'm more than happy with what I've got at my disposal."

United's boss, however, admitted Southampton's heavy investment in their squad would make them favourites for the League One title next season if qualification for the play-offs eludes them over the next two months.

Grayson said: "They've got the financial backing and some of their players have cost a lot of money.

"If they don't go up this time then they've got to start as favourites for the division next year, but they'll feel that they can still get into the play-offs.

"It wouldn't surprise me."