THE race is officially on! Saints are on their way to Cardiff and the scramble has begun to make the journey even though match tickets have yet to go on sale.

Coach operators across the south have been inundated with bookings and tourism offices in the Welsh capital swamped with calls.

Some confident fans had already booked travel and accommodation ahead of Sunday's semi-final win over Watford.

Now the team has guaranteed its place in the final against Arsenal, Southampton is set to make a mass exodus to Cardiff on May 17.

The Cardiff Visitor Centre was bombarded with inquiries yesterday from Saints supporters eager to make their way to the final.

Centre assistant Wendy Carter said: "We opened at 10am and by lunchtime had taken about 40 or so calls.

"There are about 3,500 beds in the city centre and obviously a lot more on the outskirts.

"But of course everyone wants to be within walking distance of the stadium.

"I would say about half of the 3,500 beds have already been booked. A lot of Arsenal fans booked early before the semi-final."

Nick Illingsworth, chairman of the Southampton Independent Supporters Association, said he believed fans without tickets would still make an occasion of it in Cardiff.

"The only people who know they will be able to get tickets is the 17,000 season ticket holders and then it will be pot luck for everyone else. I think a lot of people will go down to Cardiff and make a real day of it, even if they don't have a ticket. It was a real carnival atmosphere going up to the semi-final and this will be even bigger.

"People will want to be a part of it and if they can't get a ticket, they can just watch it in a pub there.

"It will be a huge party. It's something we've waited for for 27 years and we don't know if we'll have to wait another 27 years."

Steve Cooper, owner of Coopers coach hire in Woolston, said: "We have been inundated with inquiries.

"We haven't done football matches for years but we have still to make a decision for the final.

"The phone calls are just non-stop at the moment."

Leanna Chase, excursions manager of Coliseum coaches in West End near Southampton, said they had been receiving calls since the quarter-final win over Wolves.

The firm booked out the last of its 13-strong 53 seater fleet yesterday morning.

She said: "Every other call during the day was about the match but we've now had to tell people we're fully booked.

"We've had so many calls for it."

How are you going to celebrate the Saints-Arsenal FA Cup final? Let us know by ringing the newsdesk on 023 8042 4520.