Saints have to win at Hillsborough
Saints have to repeat their win in 05/06 season over Sheffield Wednesday in Yorkshire to stand a real fighting chance of relegation.
Mark Wotte will face a selection dilemma however as he ponders how to score tactically over the Owls.
In defence the clean sheet over Crystal Palace was a relief after conceding 8 goals in the previous 3 games, the problem had been mainly at set pieces and in the air and there were those who wondered whether it was time to rest Chris Perry and bring in Zoltan Liptak. This could still be the case, but the problem is Liptak's contributions have been limited to cameo appearances in midfield for five minutes or so at the end of games, he is untried in central defence for the full 90 minutes so its likely Wotte will stick with the same back four as on Monday.
In midfield its a little more tricky, Wotton is likely to anchor the middle with Surman on the left, but then it gets tactical, does he employ a diamond style formation with Lallana pressed forward. or does he move Lallana to the right.
Up front its all up for grabs, the only sure starter is David McGoldrick but who plays alongside him, Jason Euell is desperately out of form so favourite would be Marek Saganowski who is overdue a goal and then of course there is Bradley Wright Phillips, considered an impact player off the bench, is his best position wide right in midfield or up front ?
All will be revealed at 3pm on Saturday when Saints have to take the fight to Wednesday from the start and ensure that they live to fight another day.