THE tinkering has to stop at the San Siro tomorrow.

Saints boss Claude Puel has successfully rang the changes in recent weeks to mastermind a seven-game unbeaten stretch.

Remarkably, the Frenchman made 44 changes in the first six matches, followed by just three for Sunday’s Premier League win against Burnley.

And two of those against the Clarets were injury-enforced, with Ryan Bertrand and Cedric Soares both sidelined.

Puel has maintained he will continue to tinker as Saints’ hectic fixture list continues with games across three competitions coming thick and fast.

Next stop, Inter Milan away in the Europa League tomorrow.

Puel has already said he cannot guarantee seven-goal top scorer Charlie Austin a starting place at the San Siro.

Hopefully he is wrong.

Puel MUST play his strongest side against Inter Milan.

If tinkering has to be made, tinker at Manchester City on Sunday in the Premier League.

Do not tinker tomorrow.

“We’ve got a big game on Thursday against Inter Milan and we’ve got an even bigger one in the league against Man City.”

Those were the words spoken by Austin after the win against Burnley.

He is wrong.

City away in the league is NOT bigger than Inter Milan away in the Europa League.

Saints have played a league game at The Etihad for the last four seasons, and all being well they will play another one there next season and the one after that etc etc.

Saints have never played at the San Siro, one of the great sporting cathedrals of Europe.

Not last season, or the one before.

They might never get the chance to play there again.

This is why tomorrow’s tie is massive.

Glamorous, and huge.

Victory at the San Siro - Saints fans, can you believe you’re reading those words? - would put Puel’s men on seven points after half their Europa League games (and still with two home matches to come).

In past seasons, seven points has been enough to claim a top two finish in many groups and a passage through to the knockout stages.

And, as we all know, anything can happen in knockout games.

Don’t forget - Fulham reached the Europa League final a few years ago. Liverpool reached it last season (with a team who finished below Saints in the Premier League).

And winning the Europa League equals a place in next season’s Champions League.

Ok, that might be dreaming at the moment.

But why not dream? This is football, and sometimes dreams come true.

Daily Echo:

Inter Milan's San Siro stadium.

Six years ago Inter Milan were champions of Europe while Saints were playing in League 1.

Six years ago Inter were beating Bayern Munich in the Champions League final while Saints were losing to Gillingham and Tranmere.

Who’d have dared dream then that, six years ago, Saints would be facing Inter AND ABOVE THEM in their European qualifying group?

Puel left Austin, Jose Fonte, Steven Davis and Bertrand behind when Saints played in the Europa League in Israel a few weeks ago. The 0-0 draw at Hapoel Be’er Sheva vindicated his decision to do so.

But a trip to the San Siro? This is different.

Austin must play tomorrow. And Fonte. And Davis. And all the other first choices.

They must play to give Saints the best chance of a victory which would write a glorious chapter in the club’s history.

Eight thousand Saints fans are travelling to the San Siro for a reason.

To see Saints play a genuine European heavyweight.

Inter might not be the force they once were, but that is irrelevant.

They are Inter Milan and they play in the San Siro.

Claude, feel free to tinker at The Etihad on Sunday.

Feel free to rest Charlie Austin against Manchester City. You’ll be playing on the counter, more than likely, and you’ve got Long and Rodriguez, as well as Redmond.

Football managers often talk about how they would ‘swap a cup win for three points’.

Not this one.

How many Saints fans would prefer a win at the San Siro to a win at The Etihad?

Come on, be honest.

That’s why Claude Puel has to field his strongest side tomorrow.

To give Saints the best chance to create memories that will last a lifetime.

To make dreams come true.