Southampton and Bournemouth are two of three Premier League teams who find themselves on 33 points in mid-table, with this game something of a six-pointer to help either side kickstart a push for top eight finish.
Bournemouth are winless in their last four away games in the English top flight but come into this clash off the back of a 1-1 draw against Manchester United in their last visit elsewhere in the division.
Southampton will be glad to enjoy their home comforts once again, after three matches away from St. Mary’s, but Claude Puel’s men have been finding the back of the net quite regularly of late.
If the Premier League was based on home form alone, the Saints would only be 15th place in the table, having lost three of their last four at St. Mary’s. Fortunately for them, however, Eddie Howe’s side have only picked up two victories on the road all season.
Tyrone Mings is suspended for the visitors, with key striker Callum Wilson still sidelined with a ligament injury. Charlie Austin is back in training for the Saints, but is unlikely to feature, with Manolo Gabbiadini and Virgil Van Dijk also vital absentees.
Van Dijk’s absence is sure to be hard felt, which should allow Bournemouth to continue with their ability to hurt opposition teams by moving the ball well on counter-attacks, but not without surrendering chances themselves.