Ralph Hasenhuttl is trying to ensure Saints stay focused on the job in hand on what could prove a decisive day in their battle for Premier League survival.

Saints host Wolves this afternoon knowing that victory will take them to within touching distance of securing their top-flight place for another season.

At the same time, third from bottom Cardiff play what looks like a make or break fixture at Burnley, while Brighton, who are immediately above Saints in the table, welcome Bournemouth.

There is a very real sense that if things go well Saints could virtually consider it job done come 5pm, but Hasenhuttl is trying to keep his side concentrated on what they have to do to deliver three points.

He said: “That’s the most important thing – to focus on yourselves.

“If we do our job then it doesn’t matter what they are doing and that must be our goal.

“Our goal must be that we have it in our hands. At the moment we have it and the earlier we have the last wins we need the better it is.

“I can guarantee if you win it’s not over and a long way to go.

“I think now at the end of the season it’s about being on the highest level of your performance in the big moments “The guys must know that after all the build-up now we can earn the fruits if we have a good performance now.

“Everything we learned until now we must put in in every game and you can feel the willingness from every player.”

Wolves will prove a tricky test for Saints.

They are eighth in the table and have a chance of securing Europa League football from their first season back in the Premier League.

Though they have to deal with the disappointment of missing out on an FA Cup final place after their dramatic Wembley loss to Watford, they are undoubtedly a dangerous team with a huge amount of attacking quality to call upon.

Hasenhuttl is weighing up how best to try and beat them and has the element of surprise as to which formation he opts for.

“I see it as changing game to game what we need against opponents if they play in a typical style, maybe 4-2-2-2 is a better option or we also play the 5-3-2 or the 5-2-3,” he admitted.

“The team have shown they can switch, they are successful.

“The basics are always the same and the fundamentals and philosophy is still the same. The only thing that changes is the position of the players. That’s how it should be.

“Just a change in the mind to where you run on the pitch in the first minutes and then the change is what you do after that.”