Southampton travel to Elland Road on Saturday for what will be there last game of the regular Championship season.
The Saints’ campaign will be extended by at least two games, though, as they have secured a play-off spot.
Russell Martin will know it could have been so much more for his side, with their recent form seeing them squander any chances of automatic promotion.
Saturday could be even more bitter for Southampton, as there is a chance they will have to endure Leeds’ celebrations come the full-time whistle.
It is a small chance, though, given Leeds have to win and hope Ipswich Town lose at home to a relegated Huddersfield Town side for them to sneak into the second automatic promotion spot.
For Martin, he knows there is little to play for and must make a decision on how to approach the game, especially considering the two sides could face off at Wembley in a matter of weeks in the play-off final.
Russell Martin has decision to make against Leeds
It will be intriguing to see what kind of team the Southampton boss decides to send out against Leeds.
If the club hadn’t been on such a poor run of form – having lost their last three – it would seem a no brainer to put out a second string side ahead of the play-offs.
However, Southampton did that last time out and lost 1-0 at home to Stoke City with the majority of the fringe players failing to impress.
Martin may be tempted to give the side he wants to start in the play-offs some time on the pitch together, but he is surely better off holding his nerve and resting key players.
The worry with this is another thrashing like the 5-0 one received at the hands of champions Leicester City recently could be incredibly damaging for the Southampton players.
Martin must rest Kyle Walker-Peters v Leeds
One player that Martin should not risk in the final day clash is Kyle Walker-Peters.
The 27-year-old has had a fine season, earning himself a place in the EFL Championship Team of the Season.
However, recently there has been a noticeable drop off in performance levels from the man linked with a move to Chelsea in January and Martin would be wise to rest the influential full-back.
Prior to sustaining an injury in the FA Cup fifth round defeat to Liverpool in February, Walker-Peters had played every minute of every league game since Martin’s arrival in the summer.
He has been a vital cog in the Southampton machine, with Martin saying about Walker-Peters earlier in the season: “He’s such an integral part of what they’re doing. It’s almost like the team is built around him to get the most out of him.”
Despite a heavily rotated side last time out, the former Tottenham Hotspur defender played 90 minutes against Stoke.
A rest in the meaningless game against Leeds should allow Walker-Peters to recharge ahead of the crucial play-off fixtures.