Southampton are just one game away now from entering back into the hectic environment of the Championship playoffs.
Indeed, Saints supporters have just one lengthy away trip of the regular season to embark on, as the South Coast masses make the mammoth trip to Preston North End to cheer on their beloved team at Deepdale.
There will surely be a temptation on Tonda Eckert's end to rest some players, though, as he has had to deal with some untimely issues as of late, on the injury front.
Players Eckert could be tempted to rest at Preston
The much-loved German has been unafraid to tinker with his starting XI this season, when games have been crucial for his team's promotion chances.
Therefore, with a dead rubber against Preston up next, it wouldn't be a shock to see Eckert tamper with his main starting XI, to ensure there's a freshness in their legs for the draining playoffs to come.
Indeed, he might be tempted to drop Finn Azaz, who has had some injury problems in recent weeks when being played too often, with a refreshed version of Azaz a fantastic weapon to have up his sleeve for the playoffs, as the ex-Plymouth Argyle playmaker has a stunning 20 goal contributions next to his name when firing on all cylinders.
Leo Scienza is also suspectible to a knock or two, as another key component of Eckert's blistering attack, so the Brazilian might drop out temporarily, as well, next to his Irish teammate.
Alongside chopping and changing, to ensure certain Southampton players are pristine for the challenging playoff games ahead, the 33-year-old will also want those currently in the treatment room to be in with a shout of featuring.
In particular, away from wanting Japanese hotshot Kuryu Matsuki to be fit, so he can have a direct weapon to throw into games, he will further want Jack Stephens to be back from his own injury niggle sooner rather than later, as the 32-year-old could stabilise the Saints' defence expertly for the chaos that will ensue.
Eckert will want to utilise Stephens in the playoffs
After all, Stephens has handled the intensity of the playoffs coolly in the past, when he started every game of Russell Martin and Co's successful Wembley campaign in 2024.
Even featuring at full-back in the West Brom semi-final second leg, it's clear that the experienced servant wouldn't be fazed at all by whatever lay ahead for him if he was thrown into a gruelling contest.
Winning a valiant nine duels across his last three Championship games, before he was struck down with injury after the 3-0 win over Blackburn Rovers, Stephens' absence has been felt.
Nathan Wood just hasn't been cutting the same assured figure in the heart of the backline, as he has given up four goals across his last two second-tier outings, with the 2-2 draw against Bristol City seeing him win just one puny duel.
Eckert was reserved when revealing when the 32-year-old could possibly be back, after the Ipswich draw, but it would be a huge boost to Southampton on the whole if he were back, taking up his centre-back spot, when this year's frantic playoffs kick off.
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