The starting XI when Southampton were last in the Championship play-offs, it's surprising

Southampton are preparing for the play-offs, with their semi-final first-leg against West Brom fast approaching.

Russell Martin must first take his side to The Hawthorns for a 2:15pm kick-off on Sunday, before welcoming The Baggies back to St Mary’s the following Friday.

The winner of the tie will then set up a Wembley final with whoever is triumphant in the other tie between Leeds United and Norwich City.

Southampton should take confidence from their record against their play-off rivals this season and the win against Leeds on the final day could have big implications mentally.

READ MORE: The remarkable record that should have Southampton play-off rivals running scared

However, the Saints will be hoping to avoid what happened the last time they were in the play-offs at the end of the 2006/07 season.

The side then managed by George Burley suffering semi-final heartbreak as they lost on penalties to Derby County after a thrilling contest.

Having lost the first leg 2-1 at St Mary’s, Southampton travelled to Derby knowing they had their work cut out.

They took the game to their opponents and won 3-2 on the night to set up extra-time with a dramatic 89th minute Grzegorz Rasiak goal.

Southampton starting XI last time they were in the play-offs

Southampton were painfully close to facing their play-off opponents this season at Wembley in 2007.

Here is the starting XI for that heartbreaking second-leg against Derby 17 years ago and the positions they played that day, with statistics from Transfermarkt.

Kelvin Davis