Watford's team news for Sunday landed on Friday, and it makes better reading in Hampshire than in Hertfordshire. Centre-back Travis Akomeah and attacker Jack Grieves are both out of the opener, while full-back Jeremy Ngakia is carrying a hamstring problem.
The Hornets say Ngakia is progressing and expected back in the team next week. Read that how you like. Next week is not this week, and this week is Southampton.
What Watford are missing
Losing a senior centre-back before a ball is kicked is the sort of thing that reshapes a back line, and Alessio Dionisi has not had long to prepare for it. The Italian was installed as head coach on the 15th June, replacing Ed Still, so Sunday is his first competitive league game in charge of this squad.
New coach, new ideas, one fewer defender to try them with. Meanwhile Imran Louza is expected to come into the starting side, which tells you where Dionisi wants his quality concentrated.
There is form to factor in as well. Watford lost each of their final five league games last season, which is why this summer at Vicarage Road has felt like a reset rather than a continuation. Opening days are supposed to wipe all that away. They rarely do.
Where this leaves Southampton
Tonda Eckert could hardly have asked for a kinder set of circumstances. He goes into it with a fit squad too, bar the Caspar Jander question, which is a decent hand for a side starting on minus four points.
The obvious read is to go at that reshuffled Watford defence early and often. Cyle Larin got the first goal in the cup at Colchester before Romeo Akachukwu added the second. Divin Mubama is pushing for minutes as well after his season-long loan from Manchester City. Ben Brereton Diaz started that night and may not keep the shirt. Suddenly there is proper competition up top for the first time in a while.
Add the away support. Saints Marching reported a sold-out away end for Sunday. A full travelling section behind a team that fancies itself will do nothing to settle the home crowd.
None of this wins a football match, obviously. Watford at home on the opening day with a new coach and a point to prove is still awkward. Saints Marching has already flagged that Eckert is weighing up a change of his own, so the visitors have selection headaches to sort out too.
Two Watford players out and a third unlikely, though. Take that every time before a 1.30 kick-off at Vicarage Road.
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