Good start by Bournemouth. Matt Ritchie gets a decent connection to an angled shot but the big boot of Saints keeper Fraser Forster keeps his effort out. 

Both team have had their huddles and the managers have shaken hands so here we go then. We are under way...

Bournemouth striker Joshua King is playing after becoming a father for the first time this morning, when his partner gave birth to a boy.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert on BBC Radio 5 live

BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson is pitting his wits against The Coral frontman James Skelly for the midweek Premier League fixtures.

On this game, says: "This is not the same as a game against Portsmouth from a Saints point of view, but it is still a big deal because it is a south coast Premier League derby.

"I just fancy Bournemouth to edge it."

You can make your own predictions now, compare them to Lawro and other fans and try to take your team to the top of the leaderboard by playing the BBC Sport Predictor game.

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman: "He (Eddie Howe) is doing a fantastic job. If they stay in the Premier League that will be a great effort for them and for the manager.

"They try to play football, be creative and play offensively, and that's what I like. 

"They are still in with good possibility of staying in the Premier League and that would be great. It makes it more special for us if you play derbies against them.

"It's fantastic for the south coast to have two teams in the Premier League." 

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "We are in a key moment in our season. When you play the big sides you still have to attack those games and try to win them.

"But to achieve our goals at the end of the season, then I think this little spell that we're in could be defining."

Image source, Reuters

BBC Sport's Mark Mitchener at Vitality Stadium: "In a sense, this is a derby only in the purely geographical sense. While your average Cherries fan has been eagerly awaiting this game all season, the average Saints follower does not regard Bournemouth as their rivals - saving their enmity for Portsmouth. In the same way, even if Notts County's proposed takeover by a Danish billionaire, external propelled them into the Premier League, they would still never replace Derby as Nottingham Forest's main rivals."

Image source, BBC Sport

Fancy a go at predicting tonight's results? Well, you can do just that with our Football Predictor Game. As it stands, Stoke fans top the table of predictors, with Watford, Swansea and Palace supporters in hot pursuit.

You can play here.

BBC Sport's Mark Mitchener at Vitality Stadium: "Ex-Southampton goalkeeper Artur Boruc adorns tonight's match programme. 

"Looking back at his move from Saints to Bournemouth last season, he says: 'Sometimes in life taking a step backwards is worth it to make two steps forward.'

"Also facing their old team-mates tonight are Bournemouth midfielder Andrew Surman, who began his career at Saints, and Southampton left-back Ryan Bertrand, who had a couple of loan spells here as a 17-year-old in 2006-07."

Image source, BBC Sport

Tony Husband
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"While this is considered the 'other' south coast derby, I'm still expecting the atmosphere at the Vitality to be electric. How Bournemouth would relish a first home win in a league contest over Southampton for 58 years.

"However, Eddie Howe's men will need to find another gear in front of their own fans after losing their last three at home in all competitions.

"Southampton's New Year surge was halted by Chelsea, but the top six and European football is a very realistic target for a team which I fancy for a strong finish and has a fine defensive record on the road." 

Bournemouth make one change from the 0-0 draw with Watford last time out. Winger Max Gradel, who was a substitute against the Hornets, makes his first start since suffering cruciate ligament damage in a 1-1 draw with Leicester on 29 August last year. He replaces the injured Junior Stanislas.

Bournemouth XI: Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, Surman, Arter, Gradel, Afobe, King.

Image source, .

Southampton make three changes from the defeat by Chelsea on Saturday as defender Maya Yoshida, midfielder James Ward-Prowse and Sadio Mane replace Matt Targett, Jordy Clasie and Steven Davis.

Southampton XI: Forster, Van Dijk, Fonte, Yoshida, Soares, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Bertrand, Mane, Long, Austin.

Image source, .

South coast derby anyone? Yes, let's have a bit of that, especially as this particular variety is a rather rare occurrence.

There are only 24 miles between Bournemouth and Southampton as the crow flies, but these two teams are only meeting for the 18th time in league competition.

Only one of those games has come in the top flight, and that was the reverse fixture this season - which Saints won 2-0. 

Can the Cherries earn some revenge and help their survival fight? There's only one way to find out...

Image source, Distance calculator