The Southampton supporters here in the Transfer Tavern have been in fine spirits of late, with the ardent bunch relatively content with how their season is going at the moment.

The Saints were narrowly beaten by Manchester United in the EFL Cup Final, whilst they are currently tenth in the Premier League and must now concentrate on ensuring a top half finish.

Frenchman Claude Puel is the man in charge these days and he will look forward to locking horns with ex-Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino this weekend, with the Argentinean set to welcome the Saints to White Hart Lane.

Both sets of supporters are in good spirits ahead of this one and a group of Southampton fans in particular are getting stuck into the landlord’s four-pint pitchers in time for the match.

Writer Lee Clarke looks at two players who could be axed for the Saints this afternoon.

Steven Davis

The little Northern Irishman could be among the substitutes this weekend with Claude Puel potentially looking to shuffle the pack following the 4-3 win over Watford last time around.

Some Saints fans here in the Tavern are getting ready to watch the match with a few pints and they agree that Davis could be left out of the team for this one, with Puel potentially preferring to play with an extra striker.

Jack Stephens

The 23-year-old defender has stepped up well since the departure of Jose Fonte to West Ham United but it remains to be seen just how much longer the youngster will keep his place in the side.

Stephens could well be axed this weekend as Claude Puel looks to come up with a method of stopping an extremely potent Spurs attacking outlet.

One Saints fan is chatting to the landlord in the Tavern and he thinks that Stephens is doing well at the heart of the team’s back four, but does concede that the Saints could look towards more experience for today’s game.