Saints final pre-season friendly sees them face QPR this afternoon in a match that will be a 'stern test' of their progress so far...
New manager Alan Pardew has now had a further week to prepare his squad, and with the opening game of the season now just seven days away he's keen to get down to business.
"We're professional players and we have to approach every game in a professional manner," he said, "and that's what we're going to do at QPR.
"We took the players away this week for a few days. We did a bit of bonding, a bit of sport and a lot of work on the team and it was a great couple of days.
"We need to learn how to win away from home and but those things take time and if I'm totally honest, we're not quite ready for QPR but we've made some big steps already and I hope that's reflected this afternoon."
The R's are also a team in transition, with ex-Saint Jim Magilton now at the helm, and Pardew is expecting a tough test against a side with Premier League aspirations.
"I think they will give us a stern test," he continued. "They have some very good players and a new manager too.
"There are no favourites in the Championship this year, so QPR will be contenders for promotion and they will be a good test for us physically as well.
"I hope that we stand up to them today," Pardew added. "I was really pleased with our result against Hearts considering we'd only really been able to train together for two days before.
"We've now had an extra week on top and we're going to be away from home and against better opposition, but I think we'll give a good account of ourselves."
On the injury front, defender Wayne Thomas is Pardew's only new concern, but his absence has highlighted an area of the squad that the new boss feels needs work.
"I'm a little bit lacking in cover at centre half because I only have two of what I would consider first team players in Lancashire and Perry," Pardew revealed.
"Wayne Thomas is injured with a back problem, so that's a worry and that area is something that I'm concentrating on."
Pardew also took time out to pay tribute to former England boss Sir Bobby Robson, who's death was announced on Friday.
"My memories of him are as an English gent and a loveable character, albeit a slightly eccentric one" he said.
"The World Cup campaign that he had with England was the closest that we've come to winning it in my time and he'll be fondly remembered and greatly missed.
"Bobby was a gentleman of football and whenever I met him socially I found him very engaging. He had time for everyone and that was why he had the response from people that he had in his lifetime."
