Forget any thoughts about meaningless end-of-season games, Gordon Strachan's side have everything to play for when they bring the curtain down on another Premiership season with the visit of Newcastle United to St Mary's on Saturday.

If results go their way, the difference between winning and losing on Saturday will be worth £2.2m.

"That is money which will go into our transfer budget and help us for next season," admitted chairman, Rupert Lowe. "That is why Saturday's game is important and we need everyone to get behind the team to give us the support so that we can move up the table."

Southampton currenly lie 15th, and if they finish there at 5pm on Saturday, the club will net £2,640,000 in prize money. Each place in the Premiership ladder is worth £440,000, and they could, if Charlton, Everton, Blackburn, Fullham and Middlesbrough have bad days, leapfrog up to tenth, which would be worth £4,840,000.

The flip side of the coin is that, if Saints lost their final game, they could conceiveably be overtaken by Bolton in 16th spot and that would cost the club £440,000. So there is everything to play for.

Lowe added: "You have to remember that, six weeks ago, we were looking at a top ten finish. We have had one or two disappointing results since then, when we could have performed better."

The Southampton chairman has not disclosed how much money Strachan will have to spend this summer. He rubbished reports that the club were targeting Hartlepool defender Graeme Lee and speculation that striker James Beattie could be involved in an £8m move to Sunderland.

Strachan has said that he is not looking to make wholesale signings this summer, but wants to tweak and tune his team to become even more competitive.

He said recently: "I am lucky with the quality of players that were left for me and I am grateful for that. I have a good squad and we look okay for next season.

"I tell you, 15 years ago this Southampton side would be fifth or sixth in the table, but standards are now so high that they are mid-table - and it would cost a lot to get up to the level of the top clubs.

"To get better than James Beattie or Marian Pahars, we would have to spend £15m, or better than Rory Delap, Matt Oakley or Anders Svensson would be £7-8m.

"It is the same for the defence, so it is a case of fine-tuning the squad.

"We are probably looking at two or three new players.

"They will not be a threat to the ones who are here, but coming in to help them - either to give them a rest or to put pressure on them.

"For instance, Brett Ormerod has really kept James Beattie and Marian Pahars on their toes. He just gets on with it, which is typical of the attitude at this club.

"And that is the sort of player I am looking to attract. We want players to step up, who are hungry and who want to improve and do well for Southampton."