Ipswich Town visit St Mary’s on Tuesday night, in need of three points to take them clear in the automatic spots.
Hosts Southampton need to win, and hope Ipswich and Millwall drop points on Saturday, if they want an automatic promotion - however unrealistic.
Tonda Eckert has previewed the game, showing huge respect towards his opposite number, Kieran McKenna, but wants full focus from his side.
Another game to focus on
Eckert said in his pre-match press conference, which took place prior to the FA Cup semi-final, "I think we've done this for every single game that we've gone into, that we'll do everything and put the best starting XI in the game.
"If you would ask me if I would have preferred to win the game on Tuesday [against Bristol City], then I would have preferred to take three points over a draw.
"But I think it just shows that we've been able to raise the bar over the last few weeks. And it's not just that you go into a Championship game.
"You leave everything on the pitch on a Saturday, and then you play again on a Tuesday with two days in between, you have to travel back from Wales.
"To think that a game just falls for you, that's not how it works. I still think that towards the end, we had two big moments that could have won it.
"It shows how much we're able to dig deep in these games. Sometimes the last ball falls into the back of the net, but sometimes it doesn't.
"But I think for most games we've tried to leave the emotions behind and close them very quickly on the same afternoon or on the same night.
"Then you open up a new page, and there's a new job coming up to focus on for another 90 minutes. I don't see this being any different."
Southampton’s standards are rising, and they can really put the pressure on with a Tuesday night win.
Eckert shows respect towards McKenna
Ahead of the match, Eckert made a clear comment full of praise towards Ipswich Town boss McKenna, saying, "I don't need to say anything about him as a coach and the way he sets up his team tactically because I think he's one of the best.”
Given Eckert’s tactical astuteness, it’s a nice compliment - with the game sure to be an intriguing battle.
Following their goalless draw at West Brom on Saturday, a win for Ipswich would all but secure automatic promotion, no matter what happens on the final day, given their huge goal difference (+30) advantage over the Lions (+13).
But Southampton are unbeaten in 17 league games; only twice before in their league history have they enjoyed a longer run, going 19 games from September to December in 1921 and 22 matches from September 2023 to February 2024, according to BBC Sport.
There will be no easy test, and Kieran McKenna’s Blues must put on a great show to come out on top - and steal Southampton’s pre-season automatic hopes.
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