Marieanne Spacey-Cale has said her side have another opportunity to see where they're at, as they face local rivals Portsmouth in the National League Cup quarter-final (7:45pm GMT).
Wednesday night’s visit across Hampshire concludes a fortnight of cup action for Spacey-Cale’s side, who responded to defeat in the FA Cup with a 6-0 Hampshire Senior Cup victory over Moneyfields a week ago.
Four goals from Rachel Panting, alongside a Shannon Sievwright penalty and a late Ella Pusey strike ensured victory in the semi-final, setting up a possible further meeting with Wednesday’s opponents in March’s final.
“We had to put Sunday [defeat in the FA Cup] to bed on Monday and think ahead to the Moneyfields game,” said Spacey-Cale on the game.
“What was nice is that we got to rotate the squad a little bit and more players got minutes. You trust that every eleven players you put out in the starting eleven will do a job for you and that came to fruition last night.”
With a victory in one semi-final secured last Wednesday, Saints will be hoping to reach the same stage of the competition this week, where their attentions turn to the National League Cup.
“It’s a quarter final of the National League cup, it’s a big statement game for Hampshire football and big bragging rights as they always are these derbies.
“For us it’s another test for where we are, they’re a tier above us. They’ve been successful in that tier for a number of seasons, so we have to really step up our game to ensure we can take them on. But we’re confident we can do that.
“We can’t go there thinking it’s an ordinary game because it’s not, let’s be honest! It’s Portsmouth vs Southampton, a derby in the quarter final of the cup which gives it the extra edge.”
Tickets are available on the gate at Privett Park, priced at £5 for adults and £2 for concessions (18/63+).