The league needs to be set aside for a few days and the Capital One Cup concentrated on as Saints meet Stoke City for the second time in a week with a real opportunity to have a shot at a Wembley final.

Perhaps the real benefit of beating Stoke City on Saturday ahead of our cup tie with them on Wednesday is that it makes them look over their shoulders again and could affect the team that Mark Hughes puts out against us.

It is of course early days in the season, but that defeat left the Potter's on 11 points and only 3 above the relegation zone, of course there are a few clubs in between them in 12th and Sunderland in 18th, but with a tricky home game against in form West Ham on Saturday and some of the sides below them playing each other on Saturday, Mark Hughes will know that they could find themselves in a precarious position if they are not careful, so my consider the league to be more important than the cup.

On the other hand Saints have put themselves in a great position, Ok there are still a few tests to overcome but the good start has meant that we can look at chasing glory in the cups rather than worrying about relegation and that is the main reason why half of the Premier league does not take the cups seriously, in spite of it being their only realistic opportunity of glory, the main focus has to be on staying in the Premier.

But Ronald Koeman has made it quite clear that he wants that glory, he see's competing for trophies and European qualification albeit in the Europa League as steps forward in establishing Saints if not as a top five club, but as one of those just behind, as much as we might not like to admit it, our nest goal is to emulate the likes of Everton and Spurs who in the last decade have managed to finish 5-7th place most seasons.

Beating Stoke could see the draw open out for us, we would find ourselves in the last eight and of that last eight, one club is guaranteed to be from League One and another from the Championship, indeed if there is a shock or two then there could be few Premier clubs left in the draw with only three all Premier League ties.

Most ties look to be going the way of form, its hard to see Shrewsbury beating Chelsea for instance, but if Saints can beat Stoke City and get a favourable quarter final draw at home then the opportunity for a Wembley final could be very real.

In recent seasons Saints fans have sneered at the league cup, mainly because the previous Chairman and manager sneered at it as well and told them they were aiming at bigger things, now there is a better sense of reality and although our position in the league is showing us that we can compete, the fact of the matter is that if we want to do that long term then we have to have the foundations in place and building those foundations means chasing glory and not pie in thesky.

So on Wednesday Ronald Koeman will take this game very seriously, expect a change or two from Saturday, Koeman knows that we have to keep a freshness about us and that as important as Wednesday is, we still need to go to Hull and get a result, but he will tweak it a little and ith the odd surprise or two as at Arsenal.

But in the main he will keep the same shape of the team, perhaps Wanyama in for Cork, even Matt Targett in again, but we will take it seriously and perhaps playing Stoke away will suit us better than meeting them at home, Stoke will not like the idea of having to come out at us and expose their defence to the pace of Mane or Long, not to mention the trickery of Tadic and the overlapping full backs, they prefer to sit back and get it up to Crouch and look for set pieces, slightly harsh maybe, but that was their gameplan on Saturday and im not sure they can change it that much on Wednesday.

A big game for Saints up at the Brittannia, win it and we will be taking a big step forward.

Photo: Action Images

Santos added 11:01 - Oct 27 Will be intresting to see what team Special K picks for this game and his judgement will be vital. Their are a lot of factors to consider. 1 strong team selection. 2 rest a player or two. 3 freshen up the team. I think Gardos might start, needs a game (did nothing wrong against Arsenal in the last game) and resting Fonte maybe not such a bad move. Target for the same reasons. Wanyama and Long are easier decisions but Long could replace Davis and move Tadic in the middle could be intresting. The only person who is difficult to replace without needing to play a different style is Pelle. What ever the team is though at least I know "fur sure" Ron will be trying his best to win this unlike the last guy.

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TimSaint added 13:14 - Oct 27 I think that we will go for a similar line up to the one used against Arsenal. Not sure if Toby has it in his agreement to play cup games, so expecting to see Gardos replace him. Perhaps Targett will be given another run out at left back. It is great to have good competition for the midfield and wide slots, so perhaps Long and a few of the fringe players may also get something of a run out. Here's to another clean sheet, a nice Saints win and a favourable home draw :-) FOR THOSE DRIVING TO THE GAME, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DIRECTIONS IN THE ROUGH GUIDE TO STOKE ARE NOT QUITE CORRECT. PLEASE LEAVE THE M6 AT JUNCTION 15 AND NOT JUNCTION 6 AS STATED. EVERYTHING ELSE IS PERFECT !!

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Dicksyland added 23:26 - Oct 27 Wotcha Saints. A Hammers fan in peace, Just wanted to say how pleased I and so many other Hammers are to see your lot and ours doing so well. Like us, Southampton have always been smaller than the big hitters but have always punched above their weight. Just loving what our two teams are doing right now. Dunno if both or either of our clubs will be there by the end of the season, but right now we both look amazing. So happy for Southampton. Long may it continue. Best of luck for the rest of the season. Lets show the old guard that football isn't just about writing cheques (although of course it mostly is). Anyway COYI and COYS.

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