Francis Benali admits there is no room for error as Saints chase European football next season.

The club legend, who played nearly 400 games at full-back for Southampton, is in awe of how well Ronald Koeman’s side have fared in the Premier League this term.

And, while he knows there will be more trials and tribulations before the season is out, there is everything still to play for as Saints chase their European dream.

Starting with Hull City at St Mary’s on Saturday, Saints have seven games to realise their ambitions as they look to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat at Everton.

“It’s been an incredible campaign considering what happened during the closed season,” said Benali.

“People kept writing us off, but we’re still right among the challengers, we dropped off a little bit after the defeat at the weekend, but we’ve been up there the whole time.

“Every game is a big one now, though.

“I’m sure there will be more twists and turns to come.

“There are massive games at the top and bottom of the league and things will change up and down the league.

“You’d say that from the games left Stoke, Spurs and City could be the tough ones, but you’d want to take maximum points from Hull, Villa and Leicester.

“Who’s to say we couldn’t go unbeaten until the end of the season?

“When you look at that top four, City’s wheels have come off.

“Top four is still achievable, it’s ambitious but with seven games to go it’s incredible that it could still happen.

“The Champions League is ambitious but not impossible.

“It’s always good to have your own destiny in your own hands, but we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

Benali retired months before the last time Saints played European football in 2003/04.

That season they were defeated by Steaua Bucharest in the UEFA Cup (now the Europa League).

And he feels that the club are more prepared this time around to face the challenges that reaching one of the continental competitions will bring.

“If and when European football comes along there will need to be conversations about how the club prepares for it,” he said.

“The squad might still be a little bit light even now and there would need to be additions for that and the Premier League.

“The football club is much better prepared for it, though.”

If Saints win against Steve Bruce’s side they could be just a win and a draw away from reaching the average points total that will bring European football.

Typically, 61 points has been enough to secure sixth spot in the Premier League.

However, the St Mary’s outfit are embroiled in the closest battle for a top-five place for more than 15 seasons, with just a point separating Liverpool, Tottenham and Saints.

With that in mind the 61-point target could easily be surpassed by all three with the hope of possibly nipping into the Champions League spots at the last minute.