Saints will have one eye over their shoulder and the other looking upwards for the first time this season.
After three straight wins Saints fans could be forgiven if they are cross eyed after this weekend's fixtures, although safety from relegation is nearly achieved, it isnt quite yet there, so Saints still need to look behind them and see a few clubs drop off, although we are 12th, fact of the matter is we could drop right back to 15th if we lose to the Hammers, not to mention see the clubs still below us breathing down our necks, not to mention Wigan who as they are not playing will have two games in hand over us. So it is still vitally important that we keep picking up points, not only to finally be mathematically clear of relegation, but in order to achieve the highest finish possible.
Staring right at the bottom and moving up, Reading are at home to Liverpool, defeat for the Royals for the second week in a row, although not mathematically relegating them would see the water right up to their necks, likewise QPR who travel to Everton in almost exactly the same position having a point more than their fellow hooped relegation contenders, Wigans inactivity Premier wise means they cant lose ground on them, but time is running out.
Sunderland travel to Newcastle on Sunday and a win for them would ease their worries, again defeat although not sending them any nearer the relegation zone, would leave them getting desperate, especially as Newcastle themselves being only a point behind us, will be looking to move up the table and banish relegation fears, from our point of view ideally we would like a Sunderland win, but Im afraid I just cannot support Sunderlands bid for safety due to their manager, so its harsh on Saints but I would prefer a Toon Army win or perhaps a draw.
Aston Villa are at home to Fulham and they will be hoping for a 2nd win on the trot that will push them clearer from the drop zone, that wouldnt be a bad shout for us as if we harbour hopes of tenth, Fulham are a club we need to overhaul and defeat at Villa Park for them aligned with a win for us would see us do that, albeit they would still have a game in hand, but that scenario would see us tenth come Saturday evening, a draw could possibly also see that position, but we would need to wallop the Hammers by at least three, to do it on goals scored.
Stoke are at home to Man Utd and all they can hope is that United's defeat to City will not have riled them up a bit, sadly for the Potters a United win here could put them in the position of winning the Premier league by the following Saturday and that being the case could want to wrap up things pretty quickly, Stoke are an outset bet for the drop but could pose a threat to us in terms of league position so only one result wanted here.
Norwich are at Arsenal and with the Gunners being in form and looking to secure a Champions League spot there looks only one winner here and hopefully having achieved that win it gives us a chance to surge ahead of the canaries.
Swansea arent playing and our task is to beat the Hammers and put ourselves within a point of the Welsh club and 9th spot with the opportunity to leapfrog them when we play them the following week.
All in all Saints still have a lot to play for this season, firstly to dispel any lingering thoughts of a collapse and a now unlikely relegation, but secondly to finish as high as we possibly can.