Southampton will look to put their poor Premier League season out of their minds for one afternoon – and try and bring some smiles to the faces of the supporters – when they face Chelsea in the semi-finals of the FA Cup at Wembley on Sunday.

Saints will know what is at stake and that they can move a step closer to winning the prestigious trophy – and their first major one – for the first time since they lifted it back in 1976 by beating Manchester United.

It has been a season to forget for the south coast outfit in the top flight, and after four successive top-eight finishes they are on course to suffer relegation to the Championship – Thursday night's goalless draw against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium hardly did them any favours and left them four points from safety with just four games remaining.

Manager Mark Hughes will see survival as a priority but he certainly faces a catch 22 situation against Antonio Conte's men, with his players only playing 72 hours before and with the Welshman not wanting to lose any key men to injury ahead of the must-win clash against south coast rivals Bournemouth at St Mary's next weekend.

Hughes stuck with the same formation and XI against Leicester that surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 against Chelsea just a few days previously, but he may be considering making some changes ahead of this encounter as he looks to keep his squad fresh – but he will also want to win and cause what would be a huge shock given it could be Conte's final chance to win a trophy as Blues boss.

Here is how Southampton must line up against Chelsea, ahead of Alex McCarthy in goal…

While the goalless draw against Leicester on Thursday night wasn't really what they needed, Southampton could at least take some solace from the fact they had ended a four-match sequence of conceding three goals in each, to keep a clean sheet.

The likes of Maya Yoshida and Jan Bednarek did well at the heart of the defence, and alongside Wesley Hoedt they should be the first-choice trio of central defenders against Chelsea, with Ryan Bertrand and Cedric Soares as the wing-backs.

The latter duo will be tasked with keeping Eden Hazard and Willian quiet, while providing a real attacking threat for their side as well – as Bertrand did when he assisted Dusan Tadic against the Blues last weekend.

Central midfield areas have been one of Southampton's real weaknesses in recent weeks, and it was Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oriol Romeu that once again lined up in the middle of the park against Leicester, with Mario Lemina missing because of a back issue.

Romeu's display and disappointing statistics from the game showed that he continues to be a shadow of his former self, and Hughes should look to change things up with a midfield trio of Hojbjerg, James Ward-Prowse and the returning Lemina against Antonio Conte's side, in order to try and control things in the middle of the park.

Shane Long played up top on his own for the third successive Premier League match against Leicester on Thursday night, and while he is really effective at winning fouls and causing opposition defenders problems with his harrying, he showed his shortcomings by making poor decisions in key areas.

Southampton don't really have anything to lose at Wembley and Hughes should look to play two up top, and give Long a rest ahead of the game against Bournemouth next weekend.

Charlie Austin should start as he is the club's most likely goalscorer right now, while it would be a mistake not to start Gabbiadini after he scored twice – and should have had a hat-trick – against Manchester United in the League Cup final last year.

Do you agree, Saints fans? Let us know below.