Southampton will be looking to prove that they can put off-field distractions to one side and focus on matters on the pitch when they host Yeovil Town in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday.

Last week, the resignation of chief executive Nicola Cortese and uncertainty over Mauricio Pochettino's future as manager dominated the pre-match headlines as the Saints lost a two-goal cushion to draw at Sunderland.

A training ground bust-up between Dani Osvaldo and Jose Fonte, for which their record signing has been given a two-week club suspension, again has Southampton on the back pages for the wrong reasons.

However, the visit of Yeovil, who are joint bottom of the Championship, to St Mary's Stadium, provides Pochettino's men with a very accessible route to the last 16 of a competition through which European qualification, which is slipping away from them due to their current league form, is attainable.

Osvaldo will take no part, while Dejan Lovren and Gaston Ramirez both miss out with ligament injuries. Victor Wanyama is nearing a return but remains sidelined until at least the end of the month. Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and Morgan Schneiderlin could all be rested or left in reserve on the bench.

Kelvin Davis may replace Artur Boruc in goal and be joined in the XI by James Ward-Prowse, whose only start in 2014 came in the 4-3 victory over Burnley in the last round. Guly do Prado is also in contention to feature after twice being named among the substitutes following a knee injury.

Yeovil have Ishmael Miller available after re-signing the Nottingham Forest striker on loan until the summer. He could partner James Hatyer, who scored a brace against Birmingham City last time out as the Glovers won away in the Championship for the first time since the opening day of the season, up front.

Another loan recruit, Zoumana Bakayogo, has had to return to parent club Leicester City for treatment on anterior cruciate ligament damage suffered just 34 minutes into his debut against the Blues.

His replacement, Jamie McAllister, is also an injury doubt and therefore Matteo Lanzoni may start in the Yeovil defence for the first time since joining from Oldham Athletic earlier in the transfer window.

Recent form

Southampton: DWWLLW

Yeovil: WLWLLL

Possible starting lineups

Southampton: Davis; Clyne, Yoshida, Fonte; Chambers; Davis, Cork; Ward-Prowse, Do Prado; Rodriguez, Lambert

Yeovil: Stech; Ayling, Duffy, Webster, Lanzoni; Ralls, Edwards, Grant, Lundstram; Hayter, Miller

Sports Mole says: 2-0