Saints look likely to be playing front of around 50,000 spectators as they step up their pre season programme ahead of the first real test in a weeks time.
Saints get the chance to guage the standard of opposition they will face in a week when they take on Vitesse in the Europa league when they face Feyneoord in the red hot atmosphere of De Kuip in Rotterdam.
14 years ago we played in the same stadium and witnessed the passion of Feyenoord fans for their team and with former heroes Ronald Koeman, Graziano Pelle & Jordy Clasie returning it is sure to be just as passionate tonight.
Sadly due to this being midweek and only 14 days ahead of the start of our away Europa league campaign there are likely to be substancially less than the 2,000 Saints fans who made the trip last time.
Saints are likely to play a strong side at De Kuip for several reasons, firstly because they need to gel a team together ahead of the Vitesse home game in a weeks time and secondly because they will want to sent a message to Vitesse although Ronald Koeman is likely to make a few changes second half.
The result will still be secondary though, it is about ironing out the problematic areas now rather than against Vitesse when it really matters.
Feyenoord fans seem to have taken Saints to their hearts last summer when first Ronald Koeman arrived at St Mary's and then Graziano Pelle and rather than hating us for taking their star striker they have done the opposite and many a Saints match has seen a group of Feyenoord fans present.
This bond seems sure to be strengthened now we also have Jordy Clasie and it cant do Saints any harm to be linked with such a fine club as Feyenoord.
The game looks to be officially a sell out of approaching a full capacity of 51k due to Feyenoord making it free entry to their season ticket holders, although not all will show up it will still be a packed ground and a unique atmosphere with Ronald Koeman and both Pelle and Clasie being afforded hero's welcomes.