The game that neither side wants to win takes place at Goodison Park tonight as the Toffee's take on the Saints to decide which side will go out and be able to concentrate on the League and which one will get caught up in a cup run with the risk of injury and suspensions.
This will be a game of two reserve teams, it is likely that both Sean Dyche and Russell Martin will make multiple changes, both managers will have their focus on crunch relegation battles at the weekend and the chances of both being still in a job after these matches are completed are fairly slim, we are of course at home to Ipswich whilst Everton travel to Leicester City.
But first there is the little matter of a Carabao cup game to worry about.
Russell Martin will probably make 10 or 11 changes, in goal Alex McCarthy or Joe Lumley will come in, the back line will have James Bree, Ronnie Edwards, Natham Wood Armando Bella Kotchap, Juan Larios & Charlie Taylor all vying for a place in what will be probably a back 3 with two wingbacks.
Central midfield will see Joe Aribo & Will Smallbone return with possibly Lesly Ugochuku or Ryan Manning and then up front Adam Armstrong, Ryan Fraser, Sam Amo-Ameyau, Ross Stewart & Maxwel Cornet all in contention and whisper it but could we see Tall Paul Onuachu.
Add a few other first team players on the bench, including Adam Lallana and we could well have quite an experienced side on view augmented by some promising youngsters.
From this perspective we could well start the game as favourites, although Goodison Park is not our happiest hunting ground, we have only achieved one win in normal play there since 1997, that being in January 2023, our last visit when we came back from 1-0 down at half time to win 2-1 through two goals from James Ward Prowse.
However six years ago in the EFL cup, we gained a 1-1 draw, both goals scored by ex Saints, Danny Ings on 44 mins, but Theo Walcott equalised on 85 minutes.
We went on to win this one 4-3 on penalties, only Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek are still at St Mary's from the 18 on duty that night.
So as mentioned, will either manager really want to win this game ? the answer is perhaps not, but the fans of both clubs would certainly want to and that would include me, I see as an ideal opportunity for some of our fringe players to stake their claim for a place in the side, with Jack Stephens now suspended both Charlie Taylor and Armel Bella-Kotchap, could see this as a good opportunity.
So a game we can perhaps watch knowing that there is not a lot on it, in terms of the bigger picture at the moment, perhaps one of the few games this season that we can do so.