Saints need to eat Swansea City at St Mary's to ensure that they march up the league and don't get dragged into an early season relegation zone spot.
This is the time of the season that really dictates where the season is going for a team and Saints are no different, a win against the Swans would push them to level points with the welsh club and depending on the scoreline could jump them above the Swans who start the weekend in 9th place.
That perhaps shows how close things are at the moment in that Swansea are only 1 point adrift of Arsenal in 5th.
Bu Saints season so far has failed to ignite although in fairness the green shoots of recovery have been there as the squad starts to get back the long term injured who have been so sorely missed.
But it could have and should have been a better start, the opening games have been marred by individual errors and lapses of concentration that have resulted in goals conceded and therefore cost us points, so much so that it is easy to forget that in 11 games we have played so far in all competitons we have only been beaten 3 times.
But we now need to stop using the excuses and get out there and turn our undoubted talented squad into one that wins rather than draws games and Swansea City is just the right team to do that against.
Ronald Koeman will have a selection problem after the fine win over MK Dons and although beating them is a different prospect than beating Swansea it is a good springboard.
Firstly though we need to shore up at the back, I would hope that Ryan Bertrand is ready for a return to the starting line up, although after getting in two half games this week a full game might be risking it a little and so Targett could stay in situ for this game, this would not worry me I think he has done a good job.
On the other side though I would hope to see Cedric returned to the side after last week's defeat, being blunt Yoshida is a centre back and in Premier League terms a less than average one at that, there is something wrong if he has to play right back, he has been at fault for a least 3 of the 8 League goals conceded, this needs to be stopped.
In the midfield though Koeman has a headache albeit a good one to have, Rodriguez & Long both staked a claim for a place in the starting line up and we also have Pelle & Mane its a good problem to have, not to mention having to fit in Tadic JWP, Wanyama & Romeu.
Personally I would like to see Saints take the game to the Swans and line up as follows.
Steklenburg
Soares Van Dijk Fonte Targett(or Bertrand)
Wanyama Romeu
Long Mane Rodriguez
Pelle
That is an attacking combination and one that like against Villa at the end of last season has the firepower to blow a team out of the water.
If Saints beat Swansea then the Premier League will look a lot better on Saturday evening, if we lose then it could be a tough few months although I think long term we have the squad to march back up the League.
Welcome back to Jack Cork for the visitors, I hope he has a rotten game although otherwise i wish him every success.