ASSESSING Saints' chances in any cup competition is a bit of lottery.

If truth be told, they are good enough to win any of the UEFA Cup, Carling Cup or FA Cup this season, but, equally, they couldn't guarantee against an early exit in any of those three competitions.

On paper, the most realistic hope of silverware is probably the Carling Cup, while there is very little to choose between the quality of opposition in the FA Cup or UEFA Cup.

Saints, of course, reached the FA Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff earlier in the year and there is absolutely no reason why they couldn't make an appearance in Gothenburg for the UEFA Cup final next year.

If Celtic can get within touching distance of the trophy, then so can Saints.

And if Saints can beat the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal - as they have done in the past year - then they are certainly capable of beating any team in Europe.

Saints' odds of winning the UEFA Cup are actually longer than winning the FA Cup - bookies are offering what is an extremely generous price of 66-1, particularly when you consider the other teams in the competition.

To illustrate the close comparison in quality between the two competitions, it is interesting to note that Liverpool are fourth favourites in the UEFA Cup, as they are for the FA Cup.

Yet if anything the sides rated ahead of them in the UEFA Cup (Barcelona, Valencia and Roma) are weaker than Champions League Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea.

So what does all this prove?

Basically that Saints have every chance of making their mark in Europe this season.

The squad certainly has more depth than last season and while manager Gordon Strachan is unlikely to chop and change greatly between competitions, they look well enough equipped to maintain a UEFA Cup challenge if they successfully negotiate the early rounds.

Saints do lack experience in Europe, but that is unlikely to be a factor among the current squad with so many international players.

Moreover, they are very difficult to break down and that is a strength which should hold them in good stead with away goals counting double.

If pushed for a prediction I would say only that the outcome of this very tough opening match against Steaua Bucharest could easily determine the rest of the campaign.

Momentum is a somewhat vague word - yet often extremely important in football.

Saints got momentum in the FA Cup last year and they now have it in the Premiership.

A comfortable win tonight would provide crucial momentum for a big UEFA Cup push.