I HAVE always loved playing in the FA Cup. My last season as a player saw us reach the final at the Millennium Stadium, losing to Arsenal.

Being part of a squad that made it all the way to the final but fell at the last hurdle was a great journey and experience.

I have vivid memories of the brilliant support we received on that day in Cardiff.

With those memories in mind, it feels weird to say that a strong cup run should not sit on top of Russell Martin’s priority list this season.

When we were comfortably a Premier League side in years gone by, I would be calling for the manager to put out a strong team.

In a one-off game, we are capable of beating anyone this season with the way Russell has got us playing. However, now that we have been relegated, my mindset has shifted a little bit.

Of course, I want us to win – there will be positives that come from that, but the priority is promotion this year.

The hectic Championship schedule offers little rest bite for a hardworking squad before adding further FA Cup ties into the mix.

If we could have both that would be great – the perfect scenario you could call it. I get the feeling that there will be changes for this game.

Whenever these games come around and a team does get rotated it is an opportunity for the players who have not had as much game time.

For the likes of Mason Holgate and Sekou Mara, this is their chance to show the manager and his staff what they can do.

But we need to make sure that we do the job that is in front of us, no matter what line-up Russell puts out.

This game will be looked at as an opportunity to be a step in the younger players' development.

Earlier this season we saw Sam Amo-Ameyaw get his first competitive start in the League Cup against Gillingham.

Jayden Meghoma and Tyler Dibling both made their senior debuts as well in that defeat. Having been in that position as a youngster, you want to grab those opportunities with both hands.

Everyone at the club will be very mindful about where and when they slot youngsters in. You can’t put an entire team of young players out.

Senior football is a lot different to what they would have experienced in their journey so far.

But being the next generation of young players coming through, they will be eager to show what they can do.

This is a magical round for the competition because it pits the top sides against teams in the lower divisions.

With that in mind, it is an opportunity to cause an upset. Walsall will be coming to St Mary’s hoping to do just that.

In some ways, this is Walsall’s cup final. They arrive on the south coast off the back of a 6-1 win over Grimsby.

Had they been at home it would have given them a slight advantage. That would be more of a recipe for an upset. That being said, their fans will be coming here in full voice.

It will be a huge day for them, and, without a doubt, they will be doing everything they can to put an end to our run.

The guys who have been on the fringes at Southampton are still very much a part of the winning environment.

That will help the team, even if we do see a lot of changes from the line up we are used to seeing in recent weeks.

You have only got to look at previous seasons to know that slip-ups do happen. Saints have to make sure that does not happen.

One place I do hope there is a slip-up on Saturday is Newport. Eastleigh take on the Welsh side in the same round of the FA Cup.

After dramatically beating League One Reading in the previous round Richard Hill’s charges will be looking to claim another Football League scalp.

While their draw was a little bit disappointing, given the wealth of top teams now in the competition, this is a chance for them to progress.

And when you have a player like Paul McCallum leading the line you have to enter every game feeling like you have got a chance.

His goals don’t seem like they are going to dry up anytime soon either. He hit a hat-trick on New Year’s Day against Dagenham and Redbridge, the perfect performance before an important game.