Saints might buck the usual Carling Cup Trend by throwing in the experience at Rotherham.
When the draw was made Saints fans might have been forgiven for thinking they had one of the easier ties in the draw, however since then things have taken a slight downturn at St Mary's, whilst Rotherham are well on the way to clawing back their 17 point deduction, indeed a win this coming weekend will see them hit the 0 points mark and then they can start climbing the table, without that deduction they would be handily placed in a play off spot, so it will be no easy fixture for Saints.
But one thing it is for the club is important, a good Carling Cup run is essential for two reasons, firstly to stimulate confidence on the pitch and secondly to rake in income off it, things are that tight at the club that a home draw against a Premier Club in the next round would be a godsend, but first the Millers have to be overcome and that wont be an easy task.
Jan Poortvliet will try and mix and match a bit, however he doesnt have that many options, but in my mind its time to throw Rudi Skacel back in the fray, Poorto stated in the Echo that the Czech wasnt fit yet, but a run off the bench would surely be within Rudi's capabilities and we could do with him at this time.
Only other question is whether one of the other keepers is given a chance.
Older Saints fans will remember our League cup defeat 25 years ago when debutant keeper Alistair Sperring broke Mark Wright's jaw with a mistimed punch on the way to a bad defeat for a side that would finish second in the league that season, that was followed by a beating seven years ago in the FA Cup so perhaps Saints are due a win at Rotherham.
Or should we say Sheffield as the Millers are no longer at Millmoor but rather at Don Valley Stadium in adjoining Sheffield, whether they plan to change their nickname to the Don Valley's perhaps to give them a sort of Godfather edge is unknown and unlikely, but they will sense a giantkilling in South Yorkshire on Tuesday evening and it will be up to the Saints youngsters to show that their future's lie in the upper echelons of the league and not in the division where Rotherham find themselves at present.