Premier League high-flyers take on their Championship counterparts in the FA Cup third round on Sunday as Southampton host Ipswich Town.
The Saints have surprised everybody to enter this match fourth in the Premier League following a managerial change and high-profile departures in the summer.
It appeared as though they had come unstuck with a five-match losing streak in December, but Ronald Koeman's side have responded with 10 points from a possible 12 over the festive fixtures.
Even that cannot match the form of promotion hopefuls Ipswich, who are one of the hottest teams in the country having won eight of their last 10 games during an unbeaten run which has taken them second.
A top-flight scalp at St Mary's Stadium for the Tractor Boys, who have had four more days rest than Southampton, will only increase their belief that they can return to the big time after a 12-year absence.
Reported Arsenal target Tyrone Mings, who was released by Southampton as a teenager, is expected to return to the Ipswich side in what could be the only change to the side which beat Charlton Athletic 3-0.
Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick, another former Saint, are the Championship's most prolific strike pairing with 24 goals between them, but will be up against the best defensive record in England.
Koeman slightly rotated his side in their run to the Capital One Cup quarter-finals and may do so again versus Ipswich, with Shane Long and Maya Yoshida those in line for recalls to the starting lineup.
Morgan Schneiderlin is available again after missing the 2-0 win over Arsenal through suspension, but Nathaniel Clyne remains injured and the in-form Saido Mane has left for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Saints are unbeaten in their last eight meetings with Town in all competitions - stretching back to 2006.
Southampton:
Form in FA Cup: DLLWWL
Form in all competitions: LLWWDW
Possible starting lineup: Forster; Yoshida, Gardos, Alderweireld, Bertrand; Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse; Davis, Tadic, Long
Ipswich:
Form in FA Cup: LLLLDL
Form in all competitions: WWDWWW
Possible starting lineup: Bialkowski; Parr, Berra, Chambers, Mings; Anderson, Skuse, Tabb, Bishop; Murphy, McGoldrick
Sports Mole says: 2-1
Joe Fish
