Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray has treated Rhys Williams with caution ahead of this weekend's Championship match of the round.
The third-placed Teessiders take on league leaders Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday and Mowbray says he has given the Australian some days off training this week in a bid to freshen him up as he continues to nurse an ongoing pelvic injury.
"The plan has been for Rhys to have a couple of days off the training field working on his own and we'll hopefully have him ready again for the weekend," Mowbray told the club's official website.
Williams earned a spot in the nPower Championship Team of the Week last week for his commanding performance in defence as he scored a goal in the 2-0 home win over Derby County.
