It is the start of a big weekend for Saints as they not only look to force their way into the play off positions, but they "welcome" back former manager Nathan Jones to St Mary's for the first time since his disastrous spell in charge three years ago.

Before a ball is kicked tomorrow all eyes will be on Ewood Park on Friday evening where Blackburn take on Preston, if the visitors win then that will end Southampton hopes of the top six for this weekend at least.

But if they fail to do that then the first part of the quartet of results that Saints need to go their way will be ticked off.

So the chances of Saints being in the top six by the end of the weekend's games is not great, so we have to look to our own performance against Charlton first and foremost and get the job done at St Mary's before we worry about the play offs, it is one step at a time and we have to keep on winning games of football.

We have been doing that a lot lately and it has dragged us up to within two points of said play off spot and with just over two months of the regular season left, are the side coming into form.

The last League outing against Leicester was a mixed bag, the first 30 minutes awful, the last a scintillating display, we have to make sure that it is that last half hour that is built on and continued.

In terms of team selection, I think Tonda Eckert has a few decisions to make, but I don't expect too many shocks, assuming everyone is fit.

Danie Peretz will return in goal after being rested for the Leicester cup tie and the back four I would expect to be James Bree, THB, Jack Stephens & Welington, although there are a few fitness doubts in regard to the latter two, so we could see a change.

In midfield I would expect to see Tom Fellows & Leo Scienza out wide, although I have a sneaking feeling that perhaps Sam Edozie might replace Fellows who was one who was awful at Leicester, but it is the two central positions that are open for grabs.

I say that, but I think Flynn Downes is in the best form of his Saints career so will be nailed on, but then Tonda Eckert has to decide who partners him, is if Caspar Jander or Shea Charles.

Jander was awful at Leicester and when he was replaced, Charles came on and played a big part in the come back including the winning goal.

So does Eckert take the view that Jander's previous form that he deserves the chance to show that it was a one off nightmare game and stick with him, or that Charles has shown that he is the man to start this game and Jander has to win back his place in the starting line up.

Either way it is a good problem to have and this is a squad game and both will play big parts in the coming two months.

On the face of it, up front seems a simple decision, either Ross Stewart or Cyle Larin leading the line with Finn Azaz sitting just behind.

But could Eckert go for the dual attack of both Stewart & Larin, I don't think he will, although both were on the pitch in those frantic last 10 minutes or so up at the King Power, so was Finn Azaz, that was a time when desperate measures were needed, so i don't expect both Stewart & Larin to start, but it does remain a good option if we need to change this or other games in the rest of the season.

So I don't expect too many shocks in the starting line up and I am confident that should we need to change things, we have a strong bench available.

Some will be thinking that Charlton will be a push over, especially after our win at the Valley earlier in the season and Pompey turning them over in midweek, but the truth is they are a solid side.

If they had beaten Pompey they would be only 4 points behind us going into this game, they are no mugs, previous to that defeat they had won 2 and drawn 1 of their previous games.

They are a low scoring side, 31 goals in 32 games is a low total that only 3 teams in the division have scored less, their 41 goals conceded is still a decent record, take out the 8 they conceded at home to us and Pompey and they would have the joing second best defence in the division.

They will come to St Mary's looking for a 1-0 win, they will be hard to break down.

But we have the psychological advantage over them having slaughtered them so comprehensively earlier in the season, the trick will be to get the early goal and that will mean that at some stage of the game they will have to come out at us.

Our last two League home outings have both been that 1-0 scoreline, as in those games we have to be prepared to be patient in this one as well.

Finally there is the Nathan Jones factor, he will be keen to see his side put one over us, he will be telling them in the dressing room to get behind the ball , frustrate us as a team, frustrate the fans and create a negative atmosphere and then Charlton can do what they have done well at times this season.

But we can't let them do that, we know that when Charlton lose they lose badly, indeed over a quarter of their goals conceded, 11 to be precise were let in by them in just 3 games starting with their defeat to us.

The job is clear, score against them and they crumble.

As for Nathan Jones, we can't let him be the focus of the day, don't let him and his side get a siege mentality and their adrenalin flowing because Jones is given so much stick at the start of the game.

Ignore him and save the taunting for if and when we have won the game.

So the chances of us being in the play offs by Saturday evening is not in our hands, but winning this game and keeping putting the pressure on those above us is, we do that and it will soon happen, perhaps not Saturday but maybe on Tuesday when Queens Park Rangers arrive at St Mary's

I said it was a big weekend, it certainly is, but it is the start of a big week, 3 games ending with the trip to Sheffield Wednesday, our target has to be to be in the play off spots by the end of that game.

Photo: Via Reuters