SAINTS have been handed a trip to Premier League rivals Stoke in the last 16 of the Capital One Cup.

Ronald Koeman’s side, who dumped Arsenal out of the competition on Tuesday night, have not beaten the Potters since 2007 and Mark Hughes’s side promise to provide a tough test of Koeman’s stated ambition to win a trophy in his first season as Saints boss.

After defeating Arsenal 2-1 at The Emirates, Koeman said: “We are not a club that can tell everybody that we won titles.

“For that reason every competition is important.”

Like Saints, Mark Hughes’s side won their third round tie 2-1 away from home. The Potters came from behind to see off Sunderland, with Marc Muniesa scoring both goals after Jozy Altidore had given the Black Cats a 16th minute lead.

The cup ties are pencilled in for the week beginning October 27, with the first league clash between the two sides taking place at St Mary’s on Saturday, October 25.

The last four meetings between Saints and Stoke have all ended in draws and last season’s encounters were perhaps most memorable for the moment when Stoke’s former Pompey keeper Asmir Begovic set a Guinness World Record by scoring from 91.9 metres just 13 seconds into the clash at the Britannia Stadium.

Saints’ south coast rivals Bournemouth have been handed a home draw against Premier League opposition, with West Brom due to make the trip to Dorset.

League 2 Shrewsbury landed a plumb home draw when they were paired with Chelsea and ex-Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino will see his Spurs side host Brighton.

There was also a home draw former Saints Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren, with Liverpool set to host Swansea.

Draw in full: Man City v Newcastle, Fulham v Derby, Liverpool v Swansea, MK Dons v Sheffield United, Bournemouth v West Brom, Shrewsbury v Chelsea, Tottenham v Brighton, Stoke v SAINTS.