IN less than two weeks, the summer transfer window will slam shut and Saints will finally know exactly how their squad will look for the season.
The club's technical staff wanted to avoid doing business late in the day, but with the 7pm deadline on September 1 fast approaching, that looks unlikely.
Saints still have a bloated squad and players to offload, while they want to add some different profiles into the mix to push for Championship success.
They may also need to replace some of their key players, who could depart the club if serious offers which have not yet been made arrive.
Here is what we expect to happen in the final days of summer...
Where will Saints try to sign players?
Saints have clearly been making efforts to sign a creative midfielder, and this was earmarked by owner Dragan Solak as in the budget, in June.
Boss Will Still confirmed that Eduard Spertsyan and Jack Rudoni are on the club's list of targets, but it is unclear whether they will land either of the pair.
The public nature of the saga surrounding Spertsyan, 25, suggests relevant parties could be fishing for other offers, while Rudoni is key to Coventry.
But the club are looking at targets here, dating back to the start of summer, when Solak named this as one of Johannes Spors' three priority positions.
Saints could also look to add a winger to the squad before the September deadline, with Still currently feeling he lacks natural width in the squad.
He said: "To play certain systems like a four-at-the-back, you need certain profiles of players. We haven't really got any out and out wingers.
"We've got a lot of inside forwards and players of that profile, so it's more a question of managing this month with the transfer window still open."
This could be the position of the pitch where the club dip into the loan market, despite looking to reduce their dependancy on temporary players.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Saints are in talks for Morgan Guilavogui - but he appears to be more of an inside forward build, so it is a little bit odd.
A new goalkeeper will also be welcomed to St Mary's, with Still likely to add a third-choice shot-stopper to support Gavin Bazunu and Alex McCarthy.
"We need to get the profile and the person right, and that person needs to come in and actually help the other two keepers," said the manager.
What players will Saints look to sell?
Sam Edozie is up for sale and currently weighing up transfer offers, reported elsewhere to be from Strasbourg in France and Belgium's Club Brugge.
The 22 year old spent last season on loan at Anderlecht but despite having two years left on his deal, the club are happy to recoup his transfer fee.
Close pal Joe Aribo, 29, could also depart St Mary's this month. Saints are not desperate to move him on, but he only has one year left on his contract.
The versatile midfielder, a Nigerian international, has not been part of team training since the end of pre-season and Saints are willing to take offers.
Tyler Dibling, 19, returned to the pitch for the first time this season during Sunday's 1-1 win with Ipswich Town, after a failed transfer to Everton.
The academy talent had been training on his own while talks were ongoing but was reintegrated into full team sessions on Thursday last week.
Clearly, he is seen as a potentially key player for Saints this season, but they would be willing to cash in for the right price if interest picks back up.
Armel Bella-Kotchap is also available for sale. The German defender has been on the transfer list for over 24 months with no permanent takers.
What else could happen this month?
Saints expect interest in Mateus Fernandes could materialise into offers and, like every player, there is a price at which bids would be accepted.
Saints rejected a first offer from West Ham which included an initial guaranteed fee of under £30million, with their valuation significantly higher.
If a better offer comes in and he is sold, Still has set out his expectation that the Portuguese youth international will be adequately replaced.
He said: "If he leaves, he'll leave at the right price and we'll be able to replace him. I'm not too worried about that. I don't want to get involved in rumours.
"We know that as long as he's here, we can use him and he'll be good. And if he goes, then I'm sure everyone will come out bigger and better from it."
Will Smallbone has been sidelined so far this campaign with a calf injury, after he was also scarcely involved during the pre-season friendly matches.
The 25 year old academy graduate is a popular figure in the dressing room, but could be made available for sale or loan when he returns this summer.
Could Saints look at adding a right-back, if they can make sales to free up squad spaces? Yuki Sugawara, 25, has made a slow start to life at Saints.
Ryan Fraser was selected ahead of him at wing-back at Portman Road, and Saints have been continually linked with right-sided defenders this year.
Dom Ballard is likely to make a permanent move away from St Mary's, having entered the last year of his deal with his first team pathway blocked.
League One's Leyton Orient, Plymouth and Barnsley have all shown an interest in the 20 year old striker, who is a former England youth ace.
Teammate Joachim Kayi Sanda, 18, enjoyed pre-season with Still's first team and could embark on a senior loan to gain even more men's experience.
The centre-back has not been involved since the season proper and did not feature for the under-21s in their campaign opener at the weekend.
