THE Carabao Cup might not be the top priority but for more than half-a-dozen Saints players, its return could be the most important day of the year.

Manager Russell Martin is set to name a completely changed XI from the team that has started the first two Premier League matches this season.

Saints visit Championship Cardiff City this evening intending to win - the boss just sees the match as an opportunity to further assess his squad.

Martin is likely to name a team made up of six summer signings, three fringe players and two academy products, for the second round contest.

"There will be 11 changes and it is not out of lack of respect to the competition or Cardiff," Martin told the Daily Echo ahead of the match.

Russell Martin says he is excited by a new-look team to face CardiffRussell Martin says he is excited by a new-look team to face Cardiff (Image: PA)

"We need to see players on the pitch and they need to play in a competitive game and need to put themselves in the frame for the league games.

"I hope they can play in the way that I know they can and I think they can because it is exciting - we have a lot of young talent on the pitch. A lot."

Ronnie Edwards, Nathan Wood, Charlie Taylor, Lesley Ugochukwu, Matues Fernandes and Cameron Archer are all in the frame to start.

Tyler Dibling and Sam Amo-Ameyaw will represent the academy while Joe Lumley, James Bree and Sam Edozie could be given a chance from the start.

If those 11 names are the ones that go up on the board in the dressing room, only Edozie will have scored a goal for Saints previously.

Martin has named the XI he has in the first two league games for a reason - he feels that his best 11 players have started the season.

But with Saints still looking to record their first points, the Premier League team is not beyond tweaking. This is particularly true in the attack.

"We are trying to help us short-term but also securing the medium-long-term and long-term future of the club," Martin insisted.

"It's an amazing opportunity for them guys to put themselves in the team, put in a performance to be proud of, win the game and get the season up and rolling."

Martin also made 11 changes last time his side competed in the Carabao Cup - resulting in a 3-1 defeat at the hands of League Two Gillingham.

"It gives me shivers down my spine just thinking about it. There were some tough moments last year but that was the least enjoyable night," Martin reflected.

Russell Martin pictured after defeat at Gillingham over a year agoRussell Martin pictured after defeat at Gillingham over a year ago (Image: PA)

Saints had gotten their season off to a winning start with a 2-1 victory at Sheffield Wednesday before entering the first round of the cup.

The likes of Lyanco, Romain Perraud and Moussa Djenepo came into the side before making exits in the transfer window shortly after.

Only three of the 11 - Alex McCarthy, Bree and Amo-Ameyaw - that started at Priestfield are still a part of Martin's Saints squad at all.

"At Gillingham, I think we played eight players on the pitch that we knew weren't going to be part of the plans," Martin said. 

"Sam Amo was a year earlier. Jayden Meghoma was a year earlier. I think it's completely different now. These guys are here because they want to be here.

Sam Amo-Ameyaw is in line for a first start of the new seasonSam Amo-Ameyaw is in line for a first start of the new season (Image: Southampton FC)

"They've bought into what we're doing. They understand the way we want to play. So it's a completely different scenario to Gillingham."

The vast majority, if not all, of the 11 players that come into the team tonight will likely all be a part of the squad in the Premier League this season.

Unlike at Gillingham, they all understand - or are building an understanding - of Martin's style of play and have a long-term future at the club.

Young talents like Edwards, 21, Fernandes, 20, Dibling, 18, and Amo-Ameyaw, 18, need more chances - that is why winning is key.

"It would have been really easy after Saturday to say 'Actually no we need to play the team again to try and build to get a win," said Martin. 

"Now it's about opportunity. We planned this two weeks ago and we have stuck to the plan. The guys need an opportunity to play." 

The travelling Saints supporters should see a team eager to impress, although those feelings of nerves will have their drawbacks as well.

You never see a completely cohesive performance when 11 changes are made - but Martin is already laying down his demands.

"This is different to Gillingham. I expect a completely different level of performance from the guys that are going to go on the pitch," he said.