Saints take on Aston Villa on Wednesday night knowing that the competition is now wide open as some big guns have gone out on Tuesday.
Four Premier clubs departed the Capital One Cup on Tuesday evening including two of the favourites Chelsea & Arsenal, add to that in form Leicester City with the fourth side being Norwich City at Everton and the competition has truly opened out for Saints if they can beat Villa.
The two Manchester clubs like Saints play on Wednesday with both at home, perhaps City are most at risk with Crystal Palace being the visitors who might inflict a shock with United hosting Middlesbrough.
Liverpool are at home to Bournemouth in the other tie of Wednesday and if Saints can despatch Villa they could see a path to Wembley open up with so many big boys already out, including both of last years finalists.
If Ronald Koeman was not sure how seriously to take this tie then he knows now it offers Saints a golden opportunity, but he wll know how badly we slipped up last season and indeed as Villa showed in the FA Cup, they have the potential to cause an upset or two in a cup tie even when they are out of form in the league.