Southampton moved up to fourth in the Championship rankings with a 3-0 win over Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday.

The Saints’ victory over Rovers puts them eight points clear of seventh-place Wrexham and just three points behind second-place Ipswich Town.

Despite their dismal start to the season under former manager Will Still, the St Mary’s Stadium club is now a legitimate contender for automatic promotion.

Southampton visit Swansea City on Saturday, and they will be looking for their eighth successive Championship victory.

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert delivers an update on Finn Azaz’s injury.

Despite the absence of crucial attacking midfielder Finn Azaz due to injury, the Saints won convincingly at Blackburn on Tuesday.

Azaz contributed an assist in Tonda Eckert’s 2-1 victory against Derby County on Saturday, and he also scored and assisted in their spectacular 5-1 win over Wrexham.

Meanwhile, Eckert told the Southern Daily Echo’s Alfie House via X that he is ‘very sure’ that the Ireland international will be fit to face Swansea.

The 25-year-old has 11 goals and eight assists in 39 Championship games this season, demonstrating his ability to challenge Vitor Matos’ team.

Southampton’s previous meeting with Swansea ended in a 0-0 draw at St Mary’s Stadium in October.

The Saints will want to demonstrate their clinical edge on Saturday, and Azaz’s return to fitness might help his team secure another victory at the end of the season.

Southampton might be on the verge of another great game week.

Southampton have been soaring since the turn of the year, reaching the FA Cup semi-finals and closing in on the Championship’s automatic promotion spots.

The Saints had a particularly excellent night on Tuesday, as their victory over Blackburn coincided with Ipswich Town’s 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth.

Eckert’s men may have a similarly ideal weekend when fellow top-two chasers Ipswich and Middlesbrough face off at Portman Road on Sunday.

If Southampton defeats Swansea on Saturday, they will be level on points with the Tractor Boys in second place, and at least one of Kieran McKenna’s or Kim Hellberg’s teams will lose points when they meet.

Millwall will be encouraged by the prospect of passing McKenna’s side with a win over Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, but the Lions have lost four of their past five games, so a three-point haul is far from inevitable.

Middlesbrough and Millwall’s dismal record in recent weeks has significantly boosted the Saints’ automatic promotion chances, while the Tractor Boys have also shed points.

Southampton should be confident that they can beat Swansea and Bristol City in their next two games before facing Ipswich in the penultimate encounter.

The Saints’ match against the Tractor Boys might determine who, along with Coventry City, is promoted to the Premier League, although Middlesbrough and Millwall will still have a say.