SAINTS play their final warm-up match ahead of an exciting return to the Premier League when Spanish La Liga side Getafe visit this afternoon.
After that, in just one week, manager Russell Martin, his staff and players - and the fans - will be at the mercy of the toughest division in world football.
They travel to Newcastle United's St James' Park first, where they have not won on any of their last eight visits, on Saturday, August 17.
There is some debate over the state of the Saints squad. What more does it need? Has it improved since May? Crucially, is it good enough to survive?
Any answers to those three questions at this stage are largely speculative. More will only become clear over the next few weeks and months.
Football is about opinions and we can work backwards on the three questions in an attempt to provide some honest responses.
Is the squad good enough to survive? As it is now... probably not. That is the likelihood for all three of the promoted sides as it stands.
The odds are stacked against Saints from the get-go and all three promoted teams coming straight back down last season evidenced that.
Martin has been open about this squad needing more and more it will get - eventually. Saints have had attempts for marquee signings knocked back.
They are, however, a unified dressing room with a clear playing identity and this was not the case during the 2022/23 relegation season.
Has the squad improved since May? This is a question that has been debated by supporters with valid points on both sides.
Martin has acknowledged the loss of big contributors Che Adams, Stuart Armstrong, David Brooks and Ryan Fraser - the latter two were on loan.
They have signed Ben Brereton Diaz who promises to be a clear upgrade on Adams. He bagged a trademark finish against Lazio on his first friendly start.
He averaged a goal every 184 minutes in the Premier League for a shambolic Sheffield United last season - a better ratio than Adams ever managed.
Charlie Taylor offers proven top-flight experience at left-back while Yukinari Sugawara might be a ready-made replacement for Kyle Walker-Peters.
Ronnie Edwards - ahead of fellow signing Nathan Wood currently - provides depth that did not exist at centre-back and Adam Lallana is a leader off the pitch.
However, they have not yet replaced Armstrong or Brooks and these are two key focus areas - they currently weaken those areas of the first XI.
It cost Saints £38million just to re-sign two of their best players permanently - Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes - and that should not be downplayed.
Martin says Saints can operate in the market if needed but sales will be key to raising available funds due to profit and sustainability rules.
Context is important and Russell Martin did say the club can still do something in the transfer market if it’s urgent and they need to (which they do, so they must.) However…
— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) August 8, 2024
If you’re just annoyed that the club still need to sell, then you are entitled to that feeling (it…
But in an ideal world - with all the expected player departures and no unwanted ones - Saints can get their squad up to scratch with just four additions.
Goalkeeper
Alex McCarthy delivered just what was needed of him to help Saints win promotion back to the Premier League only a few months ago.
His performances and professionalism have earned the respect of Martin and he will start the campaign as the manager's number one.
The problem is that pre-season has shown McCarthy to still be limited with the ball at his feet. It is not unfair to suggest this could become a major issue.
Crystal Palace's Sam Johnstone, 31, is likely available on a permanent transfer this summer and a fee of less than £10million could get him.
Someone like Aaron Ramsdale, 26, is a further upgrade in terms of playing out but has always felt unrealistic - if a loan from Arsenal is possible, then perfect.
Newcastle United will surely sanction a Martin Dubravka, 35, loan - but is he an upgrade? Saints will look to sign another keeper if Mat Lis leaves.
It should be a position taken seriously despite the long-term effects it might have with McCarthy and Bazunu both on lengthy deals.
Centre midfielder
Lallana was not Armstrong's replacement but rather Joe Rothwell's, trading a fringe player for one with significant experience but injury issues.
Saints have attempted to sign Celtic's Dane Matt O'Riley, 23, but there has been no significant breakthrough reported for any of his admirers.
Flynn Downes, Joe Aribo and Will Smallbone are clear as Martin's starting trio with Charly Alcaraz and Tyler Dibling the backup eight and 10s.
Smallbone and Aribo are tipped by those within the club to have a breakthrough season in the Premier League but they still need reinforcing.
It is a surprise Saints did not go for Norwich City's Gabriel Sara, 25, who has since moved to Galatasaray this summer for around £15million.
Sheffield United's Gustavo Hamer reportedly has a reasonable relegation release clause in his Blades contract and scored in the Championship's opening match.
Defensive-minded options such as Tottenham's Oliver Skipp, 23, Brighton's Jakub Moder, 25, or a loan of Liverpool's Stefan Bajcetic, 21, present potential value.
Winger
Martin insisted it was "clear" Saints want to add in the wide areas when we asked him about youngster Jesurun Rak-Sakyi at Oxford United.
That was after the signing of Brereton Diaz, who will likely operate up front and off the left. Rak-Sakyi looks set for the Championship.
Fraser could still return after a successful loan last season but a deal has been difficult to get over the line and Saints might be forced to move on.
Southampton's current options are Armstrong, Sam Edozie, Sam Amo-Ameyaw and the disappointing Kamaldeen Sulemana - who is injured.
There is an obvious standout candidate to sign in the winger position - Norwich City's England youth international Jonathan Rowe, 21.
He impressed against the St Mary's side in the Championship last season, going on to score 12 goals and provide two assists over the campaign.
Marseille and Leeds United are among those interested with a fee as low as £8million being enough to prize him from Carrow Road.
The signing of a player like Liverpool's 21 year old Fabio Carvalho could also kill two birds with one stone - offering versatility in attacking areas.
Centre forward
The signing of a promising - or even better, proven reliable - number nine completely changes the narrative surrounding Southampton's attack.
With inside forwards Brereton Diaz and Armstrong on either side of a shiny new frontman, it does not sound like goals will be an issue at all.
The issue is signing that striker is the hardest job in football and Saints have failed to get it right for three years since Danny Ings departed.
At some point, summer 2023 signing Ross Stewart will be an option again - hopefully - but that can not be relied upon in the Premier League.
There are no obvious candidates to put forward for this - Ings and Armando Broja feel like non-starters, although there are some merits to both.
AFC Bournemouth are about to sell Dominic Solanke to Spurs for £65million and will be scouring the market for their own number nine replacement.
Man City's Liam Delap is probably not worth £20million at present but Ipswich Town have secured their option as a result - while Saints have not.
Aberdeen's Bojan Miovski, 25, continues to be linked and would be worth a punt costing just a few million, but we're not sure if there is any truth to those reports.
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