Saints are preparing for tomorrow night's match at Leicester knowing they stand on an important threshold for the season. Simply, it's a game they desperately need to win.

After three hugely disappointing performances, culminating in three defeats, Saints look sapped of energy and drained of confidence.

They are now out of the UEFA Cup, the Carling Cup and the FA Cup, meaning the league is all they have left.

If they are to salvage something from the season they need to get themselves back on track now.

A win against relegation-threatened Leicester at St Mary's tomorrow would push Saints back in the right direction again.

If they were to win they could look back on the last three games as a blip but still feel they have plenty to play for - namely a European spot via the league.

If they were to draw, or even lose, it could set a terrible trend for the season ahead.

It's harsh to speculate that a team fourth only a couple of weeks ago could go into free-fall but such has been the manor of Saints' defeats over the past few games that that seems wholly possible if they don't arrest the slide now.

So many sides have seen promising seasons fall apart at the seams when their confidence goes and the only way to stop it is to nip it in the bud before things change from frustrating to fatal.

Every game in the Premiership is tough but, in all honesty, this is just the sort of fixture you want in this kind of situation.

Leicester are bound to come and work hard and press Saints high up the pitch. That's what Arsenal did and Alan Shearer has revealed that Newcastle copied that way of playing after seeing how successful it was for the Gunners.

But no matter whether you are going for Europe or fighting off relegation, home games against the likes of Leicester are must-wins.

Should Saints restore dented confidence then you can see them getting a point away to Birmingham on Saturday. If not, it looks a very tricky match - as would the following week's fixture against Leeds.

Then two of the next three games after that are away at Arsenal and Manchester United.

It's looking ahead that makes it fair to say that the poor run needs to be halted immediately. If not the season could be a write-off very soon. Tomorrow night is vital.