Cup offers chance for Wolves to set down marker in Saints double-header

But the remit for tonight against Southampton is crystal clear – get through to the FA Cup quarter-finals and a step closer to Wembley.

Of course, Sunday’s trip to St Mary’s is worth bearing in mind, especially in terms of recovery, as Wolves still have to climb the Premier League table.

If you asked which match fans would prefer to win, though, you have to imagine most would say this evening’s.

After all, while it has been a disappointing campaign on the whole so far amid the lack of fans, succession of injuries and, ultimately, some pretty bad performances, the Cup has offered hope to many.

It presents an opportunity to look back on a season which lots of supporters – and not just those of Wolves – will be happy to forget with positivity instead.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have unfinished business in the competition, too, although he may not say it, given what happened against Watford in the semis a couple of years ago.

Wolves have had fairly tight games against the Saints in recent years – winning two, drawing two and losing one – and Nuno expects it to be exactly the same against Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men this time around.

“Exactly the same. It’s going to be a very tough and demanding game,” he said, although Southampton have lost their last four.

“We’re going to face a very tough opponent, but we want to play and compete – and do things better.

“The focal point is our approach. This is what we are trying to insist, the step to improvement.

“All the teams during the season have tough moments.

“But that doesn’t take away the quality and talent of Southampton.

“We’re going to face a very talented squad and manager. And it’s the FA Cup, so let’s compete well.”

Nuno has fielded strong sides in the competition thus far and says that will not change against the Saints.

John Ruddy will come in between the sticks, but Wolves are not expected to make a great shift from the side which drew 0-0 with Leicester last weekend.

On the injury front, Rayan Ait-Nouri is back available having recovered from an adductor issue.

Fernando Marcal remains on the sidelines, though, along with Willy Boly, Daniel Podence and Raul Jimenez.

Romain Saiss should be involved again after making the bench against the Foxes.

When asked if he will pick a strong XI, Nuno said: “Always. It’s always the same thinking, according to all the situations.

“We will hopefully have the better decision and solution for the team.”

Southampton, meanwhile, are expected to be near full-strength, with Danny Ings leading the line.

And Nuno is particularly wary of set-piece ‘specialist’ James Ward-Prowse.

On if they have been preparing for his free-kick prowess in training, Nuno said: “Practising? No. Hopefully we would have five Boly’s (in the wall) – but we don’t have that.

“It’s part of the game. At that specific moment we know we are going to face a specialist – and specialists require special attention and this is what we will do.

“A good wall, assess properly, decide, set, and then do your job, knowing that he still has a lot to do.

“He has to pass the wall, and then our goalkeeper. So it’s not easy.

“A good wall, and pray! He’s a specialist. It can happen anywhere, a foul is a foul. So, you have to do your job.”

Nuno added on balancing tonight and Sunday: “It’s always difficult, because we are talking about a very good opponent.

“It’s going to be a big challenge for us as we are facing a very good team.

“It’s a very tough game, so we go step by step.

“The next game is always the most highly-rated game.

“We have to focus on that. It will require the best of us.”