Southampton is going kit crazy as Saints fans gear up for the FA Cup final and the unveiling of next season's new home strip at St Mary's on Saturday.

The Saints stores have reported huge retail activity in the last week as fans snap up their souvenir merchandise ahead of the final with Arsenal on May 17.

But there is also massive interest in the new 2003/04 kit which will be revealed at half-time of Saints' final home match of the season against Bolton on Saturday.

There has been rumour and debate as to what it will look like but, in 48 hours time, the waiting will finally be over and we will have the exclusive first pictures in Saturday's Pink.

Right now, things are crazy at the Saints shops and, according to retail bosses, Saints have sold 20,000 units in the weeks after the FA Cup semi-final win over Watford.

After finding out that Saints will be playing in yellow and blue, more than 3,000 yellow shirts have been sold to fans as they start to prepare for the final.

The stores are so busy that extra staff have been drafted in and the club have been putting in additional orders to its shirt manufacturers to cope with the demand.

Over 5,000 yellow shirts have been additionally ordered and these are all expected to sell well before May 17.

The retro '76 shirt and yellow polos are also very popular as well as traditional products such as scarves, sunglasses and baseball hats.

Also introduced are lines such as face paints, coloured ribbons, rosettes, and balloons. The club have tried to cater for everything fans need for their pilgrimage to Cardiff.

The shirt printing operation has also been working in overdrive with 'Cardiff 2003' the most requested followed by James Beattie and Fabrice Fernandes as fans personalise their shirts.

Merchandise manager Leighton Mitchell said: "Traditionally this is a time when we are quite quiet as the season draws to a close and the fans are looking forward to next season's ranges.

"But thousands of fans are getting into the cup spirit, so we've tried to get as much stock into the two stores as possible."

He added: "Outside a kit launch, it's the busiest we've ever been and on a par with the height of Christmas shopping."

Saints have given the Daily Echo several prizes to give away to fans in a competition.

There is a 1976 replica yellow shirt, two jesters hats, a pair of sunglasses, three car flags and three rosettes to be given out to lucky winners.

To be in with a chance of winning some of the goodies just answer the following question:

Where will Saints play this year's FA Cup final against Arsenal?

Send your answers along with your name, address and daytime contact number to: Cup Competition, Southern Daily Echo, Newspaper House, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton, SO16 9JX. Please state which item of merchandise you would like, but we can't guarantee all winners will get the item of their choice.

Closing date for entries is Friday, May 9.