Tonda Eckert was up bright and early this morning to discuss Southampton's trip to West Ham United on Saturday afternoon.
Indeed, the German was taking questions from the media at 8am, with his breakfast pushed to one side, so he could answer some pressing queries ahead of the showdown at the London Stadium.
A lot of the focus centred on injuries in the Saints camp, with both Cyle Larin and Flynn Downes touch-and-go to feature against the Hammers, after sustaining unwanted spells in the treatment room as of late.
Eckert's comments on Larin and Downes
Both Larin and Downes are first team regulars under Eckert when they're at maximum fitness.
Downes' energy and hard work from the middle of the pitch is key to how the Saints operate, whilst Larin's seven goals so far this Championship season have bailed Eckert and Co. out of some sticky situations.
Having both of them unavailable for such a big clash at a promotion contender isn't ideal, as the Berlin-born manager kept his cards close to his chest about whether they will feature or not, likely to keep West Ham guessing ahead of the match.
As per The Daily Echo's Alfie House, Downes was noted as being "better" - after originally going down with an ankle issue at Norwich - but he needs to be assessed as to whether he will line up against his ex-side tomorrow or not.
When it came to the Brampton Bagsman, Eckert equally didn't give a straight answer, with Larin also deemed "better", after suffering with back problems, but it will be a waiting game to see if he can lead the line or not.
While losing Downes for another game would be a blow, there is already a readymade solution to hand in Caspar Jander, with the German looking lively since his own return from injury.
Surely, if needs must, he can just slot in to fill that Downes-shaped hole.
When it comes to Larin, however, a decision to start him or not will trouble Eckert right until the teams are announced, as the 33-year-old might be tempted to use him, even if he isn't at full pelt, for such a huge contest.
Picking Larin will trouble him right until kick-off
If Southampton stand any chance of upsetting Nuno Espirito Santo's title chasers, they might have to start a slightly bandaged Larin.
He is their top goalscorer in Championship action this season by some distance, as he boasts a golden boot competing seven goals, with Azaz lagging behind on three strikes.
So, removing him from the game at the start could play into West Ham's hands as they try to lay down a marker from the get-go, with Nuno and Co. sticking out as the division's main entertainers, with 30 goals overall next to their name.
Eckert just doesn't have the same options up top that his counterpart can call upon, with Joel Piroe a well-known dangerous Championship marksman at the Hammers, away from the likes of Taty Castellanos, as Lewis Dobbin and Divin Mubama only have one Championship goal between them this season.
There could be a temptation to go with Mubama initially, as he will be pumped up to grab a goal against his ex boyhood side, and then you can work Larin into the game, perhaps, when the hosts' legs are tiring.
It is a selection dilemma that willl be troubling Eckert, as he could think an all guns blazing approach from minute one of the game is the way to go, with Larin starting.
But, he won't want to aggravate a more serious injury out of the clinical Canadian, which sees him sidelined for a significant time.
When the lineups filter through tomorrow at around 1:45pm, the first immediate area of the pitch Saints fans will be looking to is the lone striker spot, with your guess as good as mine as to who the 33-year-old will go with, having given very little away in his pre-match musings.
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