Saints travel to Sunderland in confident mood, after coming through a difficult first month of the season and now with new signings in the side, they will also know what the squad will look like for the next four months at least.
Even some of the biggest critics of Saints are starting to admit that not only have the club had a good start, but Russell Martin has slowly but surely revamped the squad, of course the quality of those coming in, might not match that of those who have left, but they are signings to do the job in hand in the Championship, not to play in the Premier League, at least not just yet.
Russell Martin though will just do as he has done since his arrival, get on with things quietly.
But he has a bit of thinking to do ahead of the game, for perhaps the first time this season he has selection issues to deal with in a good way, although I would not expect Friday mornings new signing Taylor Harwood-Bellis to play any part in this game, but Mason Holgate who signed just too late could well be in the squad if not the starting line up.
I would expect the side at kick off to be nearer the one that finished the game against QPR, than the one that started it.
The first big decision though is the centre of defence, does he bring in Mason Holgate or does he stick with Shea Charles, if he opts for Holgate how does he find a place for Charles who has been excellent in the last two games.
Perhaps he could do that by playing Charles in a back three with Jan Bednarek & Holgate alongside him, then a central pairing of Downes & Stuart Armstrong, flanked by wingbacks Kyle Walker-Peters & Ryan Manning.
That could leave Charly Alcatraz & Ryan Fraser flanking Adam Armstrong up front.
That might be a tad unfair on Sam Edozie who would then join Sam Amo-Ameyaw , Joe Aribo, Sekou Mara, James Bree & a couple of others on the bench and they could even be joined by Che Adams or Bella Kotchap.
The squad isn't quite there yet as any new signings today won't be able to play, but they will be ready for the resumption after the International break, as well might be Will Smallbone.
Sunderland have had a mixed start to the season, they lost their first two against early pacemakers Ipswich & Preston, then beat bottom 4 side Rotherham and a draw at mid table Coventry.
Their early results mean Saints can go into this game with confidence, but Sunderland are a good side at home and the crowd will be fired up after Saints pursuit of Ross Stewart & Patrick Roberts.
This is a Saints squad that has evolved and is growing into a new way of playing, the truth is we are getting better with every game, yes there will be blips during the season, but we are learning all the time, we are now stronger than we were a week ago when we started against QPR and in two weeks time we will be stronger still.
The possession game is working and although we are going to get caught from time to time, we are also creating a lot more chances up the other end, we just have to keep scoring more than we concede.
If Southampton can win this one we will truly have posted our intent to challenge for promotion and set ourselves up nicely for what will be a big big game against Leicester City in two weeks.