Southampton are preparing for one last game of the regular Championship season.
Manager Russell Martin must take his side north to Elland Road to face a Leeds United side that could be promoted on Saturday.
It is out of Leeds’ hands, though, as Daniel Farke’s side must win and hope Ipswich Town lose to Huddersfield Town at home.
For Southampton, they are guaranteed to finish fourth after falling short of automatic promotion due to their poor end of season form.
Martin must help his players brush off the disappointment of three consecutive defeats, but will have to decide whether to risk any first-team players against Leeds or wrap them in cotton wool ahead of the play-offs.
Southampton team news for Leeds
Gavin Bazunu is set to be missing well into next season with the achilles injury he sustained in the warm-up against Preston.
Stuart Armstrong has also played his last Southampton game of the season, with the 32-year-old stretchered off against Cardiff a fortnight ago.
Flynn Downes recovered from a knock sustained against Preston to return after 63 minutes against Stoke, but Martin will not risk the player he has labelled the ‘best in the league’ unless he is sure he is fully fit.
There is some good news, though, as summer signing Ross Stewart is set to make the squad having only played a total of 17 minutes since arriving at the club.
How will Southampton line up v Leeds?
Alex McCarthy has been the goalkeeper entrusted with the gloves following Bazunu’s injury and should continue against Leeds.
Martin may be tempted to rest some of his usual back four and this could mean Kyle Walker-Peters and Taylor Harwood-Bellis drop out the side, particularly given the latter had a poor half against Stoke last weekend.
This would likely see a back four of James Bree, Jack Stephens, Jan Bednarek and Ryan Manning.
In midfield, Shea Charles should start in the holding role with Downes not risked.
Ahead of him, Joe Rothwell may come in given he is unlikely to start in the play-offs and we could see Will Smallbone complete the midfield three.
£10 million man Samuel Edozie was one of the only positives from the Stoke loss and should be given another run out in Leeds on the right, with Ryan Fraser on the left.
Sekou Mara only managed five passes last weekend as he failed to grasp his opportunity.
The man signed for a £1 million more than Edozie has flattered to deceive since joining in summer 2022, but Southampton cannot afford to risk injury to either Che Adams or Adam Armstrong so the French striker may be given another chance.
Stewart won’t start but could give the Saints a boost with a cameo off the bench.
With that in mind, here is how we predict Southampton will line up against Leeds in their final game of the regular Championship season.
Southampton XI (4-3-3): McCarthy, Bree, Stephens, Bednarek, Manning; Charles, Rothwell, Smallbone; Edozie, Mara, Fraser