Morgan Schneiderlin has insisted that he and his Southampton teammates want to "make a statement" in their last five games of the Premier League season.
Ronald Koeman's side are vying for a Europa League spot, but they face the difficult task of playing Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The match will mark Mauricio Pochettino's first return to St Mary's as Tottenham boss following his departure from Southampton last year.
"The view of the [Tottenham] match is that it is not going to define our season because if you lose the game but win the next four, it means nothing," Schneiderlin told BBC Radio Solent.
"It is going be a very important month and I think everyone is looking forward to this game for many reasons. We are ready to show we deserve sixth or fifth and we want to make a statement."
The Saints are currently seventh in the table.
