Saints could need as few as nine wins from their remaining 16 games to secure Champions League football if recent trends continue.

The average number of points required to finish clear in fourth place over the five completed seasons since the rule change which saw the Premier League’s top four sides qualify for Europe’s elite competition rounds up to 69.

Saints have already secured 42 points this season, meaning they would need a further 27 to hit that target.

That could break down as simply as nine wins and seven defeats from their remaining fixtures.

The average number of points the team finishing fourth has actually secured over the last five seasons is a little higher at 72, meaning an extra victory would be required to hit that tally.

Saints will though have to be wary that the points total for fourth has increased in the last two years.

Arsenal have secured that slot on both occasions, with 73 being the minimum number required on both occasions.

That would set a tougher benchmark for Saints with another draw being required.

Saints’ sensational season has seen them average a quite brilliant 1.90 points per game.

If they were to keep that up for the remainder of the campaign, they would secure a further 30 points, which would mean hitting the 72 mark.

Those who have been regular observers of Ronald Koeman’s men in recent times are unlikely to back against them.

Saints look to be getting even stronger and more resilient at the moment.

And in terms of the fixture list they have got through what, on paper, looks to be their trickiest moments.

The rest of the season sees them face just four of the clubs that are likely to be vying for European slots, and one outsider.

They travel to Chelsea, which will obviously be a very tough game, and also face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on the final day of the season.

The other two they face are Liverpool and Tottenham – but both of those matches are at St Mary’s, providing an excellent chance for revenge after Saints ran them both close in the away games.

Both those games also have the additional extra spice of former Saints in the opposition ranks.

Liverpool, of course, could include Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren for their February 22 visit.

And the late April clash with Tottenham will see Mauricio Pochettino make his first return to St Mary’s.

The only other fixtures that leap out are the home game against West Ham, who are hanging in and around the fringes of the European places, and a trip to Everton who, though falling short of previous standards, are still live opponents, especially at Goodison Park.

That is not to say the remainder of the games Saints face are easy, because in the Premier League such a thing does not exist.

Also, many of the sides Saints face are scrapping for their survival and so are sure to be highly motivated.

But when you consider they might need just nine wins for Champions League football, and they have to play nine teams in the bottom half of the table, the chances are obvious.

Looking briefly at the run-ins of the other teams challenging Saints, it is Arsenal who have probably the kindest run of games, while Liverpool are facing a really tough time.

But there are two other factors also playing into Saints’ hands.

The first is that they have players returning.

Saints have been unlucky that they have suffered injuries in batches this season, but this time round they have kept winning.

With those players all likely to return over the same fortnight, and Sadio Mane and Maya Yoshida coming back from international duty, Koeman’s squad is suddenly set to look far stronger.

He will have far greater options on the bench too, as he will be able to name internationals rather than just youngsters.

On top of that, Saints don’t really have many games to play after a fairly busy February.

There could be more FA Cup fixtures to come after this weekend, but in terms of the league there are just 16 matches to play over the next four months.

Even taking into account an international break where Saints will wave off a large number of players, that still leaves time between games to refresh and recover and work on things in training.

It was that exact format that served Saints so well earlier in the season.

In contrast, all of those teams most immediately threatening Saints’ top four aspirations are all in action in either the Champions League or the Europa League, with three facing a two legged Capital One Cup semi-final, and potentially a final too that would mean a league game rearranged for midweek.

Saints have stacked the odds well and truly in their favour of achieving what almost everyone would have once claimed was impossible.

Now they just need to see it through as the pressure increases.