SAINTS fans could have to travel more than 5,000 miles to watch their team in action in Europa League qualifiers.

The club will play European football for only the eighth time in its history as they enter the third qualifying round of the competion.

Saints supporters are already looking at potential opponents, with the draw not set to take place until July 17, once the two previous qualifying rounds have been completed. The two-legged tie will be played on July 30 and August 6.

It is possible Saints will not even have to fly to a game, with three Welsh teams, including Airbus UK, in the first qualifying round.

That particular game would be less than 200 miles from Southampton , and played in a stadium of 1,600 capacity, with just 500 seated.

However, they could also have to go an awful lot further.

The longest trips would be if they drew a team from Azerbaijan.

The Baku clubs, Inter Baku and Neftchi Baku, are both in the first qualifying round, with their respective grounds some 2,526 miles from Southampton. That would mean a round trip for a Thursday night game of 5,052 miles.

There are a few other blockbusting trips probably best avoided in the draw as well.

The Armenian clubs are plenty enough far away.

FC Shirak is some 2,249 miles from Southampton.

Other notable trips would be to either Cyprus or Israel.

Beiter Jerusalm in Israel are in the first qualifying round and are 2,279 miles away.

Hapoel Be’er Sheva are in the second qualifying round and lies 2,290 miles from Southampton.

Ironi Kiryat Shmona are already into the third qualifying round along with Saints and would involve 2,224 miles each way of travel.

The furthest away of the Cyprus clubs is Larnaca, which is just over 2,000 miles.

Among the many other places Saints could travel are the Faroe Isles, who have three clubs in the first round draw. Saints are most likely to get a minnow in the third qualifying round as the draw is likely to be seeded.

Due to being a high-ranked English club, Saints have a UEFA coefficient score of 16.078. That will ensure Saints are one of the seeded clubs, with the draw split in half between seeded teams and those who are not.

The line-up for the third qualifying round will feature 58 teams. There are 25 clubs, including Saints, who join the competition at this stage, with a further 33 winners coming through the second qualifying round.