Saints fans are sweating on just what the injury is that meant that James Ward Prowse had to return home from the England squad as a precaution, but if he does miss his first game in around two years, Saints can still cope after Danny Ings and Theo Walcott returned to training this week.
Obviously losing James Ward Prowse for this weekend's big game against Burnley would be a blow, a little over two years ago JWP was a player some fans loved to hate, but the arrival of Ralph Hasenhuttl transformed him from a player who was struggling to get in the team under Mark Hughes, to become one of the best and most consistent players in the premier League.
To lose him would be a blow, but the return of both Danny Ings and Theo Walcott would offer options to ensure that his absence would not be missed.
Stuart Armstrong would be the obvious candidate to replace him should he not pass muster, with the Scot moving into a central position from out wide, although another option could be to play Alexandre Jankwewitz.
But for perhaps the first time since before Christmas Ralph is faced with the luxury of having more than just one option for change.
The return of Ings and Walcott gives him a big boost and Saints will be keen to build on recent wins against Bournemouth in the Cup and Sheffield United in the Premier League, victory over Burnley would put Saints on the cusp of safety in the first of three games that will change the season.