Southampton and Coventry can both boost their prospects of avoiding the drop with a win at St Mary's Stadium.
Six-pointer at St Mary's Stadium
Southampton and Coventry can both boost their prospects of avoiding the drop with a win at St Mary's Stadium this weekend.
Keeper Richard Wright is set to be pitched straight into the Championship relegation battle after joining from West Ham on Thursday in a one-month loan deal.
Kelvin Davis is close to returning following a dislocated finger, but Wright's arrival means he need not be risked unnecessarily, while back-up keepers Bartosz Bialkowski (thumb) and Michael Poke (ankle) are still sidelined.
Elsewhere, Andrew Davies has been ruled out for the season after surgery to repair his fractured cheekbone, and fellow centre-half Ian Pearce misses the final game of his loan spell from Fulham with a back injury.
Midfielder Inigo Idiakez is on the mend following a hamstring injury but will not be ready in time to face the Sky Blues.
Fitness test
Coventry boss Chris Coleman will check on the fitness of two of his key midfielders ahead of their trip to the South Coast.
Michael Doyle - who is to postpone a hernia operation until the end of the season - was forced off with concussion in the 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday last weekend and will be assessed before kick off on Saturday.
So will Stephen Hughes, who Coleman admitted "was in a bit of pain" during the second half against the Owls because of a medial ligament problem.
Kasper Schmeichel is set to keep his place in goal at St Mary's after keeping a clean sheet on his debut last weekend, with Andy Marshall and Dimi Konstantopoulous competing for a place on the bench.
The Sky Blues, one point and one place above the Championship relegation zone, have lost their last eight league matches on the road, a run stretching back to their impressive 4-2 win at West Brom on December 4.
