Preston North End come South to hopefully exit the Carling Cup.
One thing is for sure in this game and that is that neither side will probably play anything like the team that started their respective games over the weekend, at least if you believe what both managers have been saying and this would suit Saints fine.
Although as a supporter you want to see the strongest team put out, with Saints its not so much a case of resting players but of giving the fringe players a chance, Saints have a big squad and in truth in the league there has been little opportunity for anyone but the usual starting 11 plus the same suspects off the bench, this game will give the chance for the likes of Steve De Ridder, Richard Chaplow and Morgan Schneiderlin to get in a full game, not to mention a few of the other fringe players like Joneathan Forte, Ryan Dickson, Arron Martin etc
In truth Saints could put out a virtual second XI that would be capable of holding its own in the Championship and its the quantity as well as the quality that can stand it in good stead in the early rounds of this cup.
Injury wise its a little sketchy just who is actually unable to play because of a knock, Harding has been casually mentioned as having picked up a knock in training a wek or so ago, but little has been said about what it actually is or how long it could affect him, as for Lee Barnard, Danny Butterfield & Jaidi, its been almost as if they no longer exist.
I would expect only around 3-4 of Saturday's starting XI to be on the pitch at the kick off tonight and Saints to line up something like this.
Bialkowski
Richardson, Martin, Hooiveld Dickson.
De Ridder, Chaplow Schneiderlin, Holmes.
Guly Forte.
With seven subs able to be named I would then expect some of our big guns like Lambert, Cork & Lallana to be held in reserve ready to be brought on in an emergency.
This looks the most likely line up and to be blunt as mentioned its still one that could hold its own in the Championship, the only real question is whether Nigel Adkins considers it to be a little too much wholesale change and keeps a couple more of Sunday's starters in the side.
Victory on the night would take Saints into the last sixteen and with a great chance of making the quarter finals with a favourable draw on Saturday, but having said that it would also be nice to see Saints pitted at home against one of the premiership sides and play a strongish team to see just how good we actually are.