HULL City are expected to be without at least nine first-team players through injury and availability when they visit Saints this weekend.
The Tigers beat Will Still's side 3-1 at the MKM Stadium in September, and they have pushed on to sit seventh in the Championship table.
The Humberside outfit are outside the top six on goal difference, having scored a third-best 40 this season, but also conceded 38 - as many as Saints.
Saints are looking to end a winless run of six in the league when the two teams clash at 3pm on Saturday, after beating Doncaster in the FA Cup.
Hull are currently managing a lengthy list of absentees, with injuries threatening to disrupt their momentum at a crucial stage of the season.
Starting striker Joe Gelhardt, with 10 goals already this season, is close to a return after a calf problem, but the game is expected to come too soon.
Midfielder John Lundstram has endured a frustrating campaign, with calf and knee injuries limiting his involvement since November.
Enis Destan is sidelined with a knee issue and has returned to Turkey, while full-back Ryan Giles remains a significant miss with a hamstring injury.
Midfielder Eliot Matazo is progressing well in his recovery from an ACL injury and could return in February, although caution remains essential.
Creative force Darko Gyabi faces a potentially season-ending groin injury, and Brandon Williams continues to battle ongoing calf problems.
Mo Belloumi, one of City’s most dangerous attackers, is unlikely to returnbefore March after aggravating a long-term hamstring issue.
Defender Semi Ajayi is also unavailable, though his absence is due to international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations rather than injury.
However, Tonda Eckert's charges can ill afford to count their chickens, with Millwall and Norwich also missing several players and beating Saints.
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