Southampton will be looking to resurrect their Champions League hopes with victory over Crystal Palace on Tuesday.
The Saints have picked up just one point from a possible nine to drop out of the top four and risk falling irretrievably off the pace if they do not rediscover their form soon.
Premier League big guns Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are all stringing wins together and have climbed above the sixth-placed Saints in the table.
However, manager Ronald Koeman insisted after their 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion at the weekend that his side can still gatecrash the party if they win "seven or eight" of their remaining matches this season.
To do that, Southampton are going to have to locate their shooting boots, having scored just once in their last five games. Graziano Pelle is goalless in 2015, while Shane Long does not appear to be a trusted alternative.
More than ever, keeping the goals out is crucial and Belgian international defender Toby Alderweireld could return to the Premier League's best defence at St Mary's Stadium after missing eight matches with a hamstring strain.
The Atletico Madrid loanee is hoping to be fit to resume his centre-back partnership with Jose Fonte, leaving both Florin Gardos and Maya Yoshida to drop out of the 3-5-2 system that was quickly abandoned against the Baggies.
Koeman could also make changes further upfield, having brought both Steven Davis and Eljero Elia off the bench by the start of the second half at The Hawthorns. Dusan Tadic's assists have dried up and he could pay with his place.
Palace are not finding goals hard to come by despite injuries to strikers Fraizer Campbell, Yaya Sanogo and Marouane Chamakh and they put three past West Ham United to secure a valuable away win which took them eight points clear of relegation trouble.
Glenn Murray, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Championship side Reading, has come in from the cold to bag three times in two matches, including a double at Upton Park before his second-half dismissal.
His suspension means that Dwight Gayle is likely to lead the line for the Eagles on the South Coast, and manager Alan Pardew could also find that Mile Jedinak is banned by the time tomorrow evening's kickoff comes around.
The Palace captain faces possible retrospective action for an alleged elbow on Diafra Sakho in what was his first game back since lifting the Asia Cup with Australia, although Pardew expects the midfielder to go unpunished.
For the third match against one of his former clubs in the space of three weeks - he spent 18 months in charge of the Saints between 2009 and 2010 before being sacked - Pardew could have to make up to three changes.
Jordon Mutch has picked up a knock and therefore both Joe Ledley and James McArthur are in line for recalls in the middle of the park. Yannick Bolasie may also start if Jason Puncheon continues in a more central role.
Palace have lost their last six league games against the Saints, but beat them 3-2 in the FA Cup at St Mary's in January.
Southampton:
Form in Premier League: WLWDLL
Form in all competitions: LLWDLL
Possible starting lineup: Forster; Clyne, Alderweireld, Fonte, Bertrand; Wanyama, Schneiderlin; Elia, Davis, Mane; Pelle
Palace:
Form in Premier League: WLWDLW
Form in all competitions: LWDLLW
Possible starting lineup: Speroni; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Kelly; McArthur, Ledley; Zaha, Puncheon, Bolasie; Gayle
Sports Mole says: 1-1
Joe Fish
