Goalkeeper Artur Boruc and playmaker Gaston Ramirez could both make their first appearances of pre-season, as Saints head to Bournemouth tonight.

Ronald Koeman is taking his squad to the Goldsands Stadium for what will be their fourth match of the summer, and their sternest test so far.

Boruc is yet to feature in any of the pre-season friendly games, but Koeman intends to play him this evening.

The 34-year-old will hope to make a point, with his role as the team’s first-choice keeper under significant threat ahead of the start of the Premier League campaign.

Saints want to sign a new keeper this summer, and have made Celtic’s Fraser Forster their number-one target. They are set to return with a second bid for the 6ft 7in stopper after their initial offer for the 26-year-old England international was rejected.

As well as Boruc, Ramirez could also be back in the line-up, having returned to duty at the club this week, following his involvement in the World Cup with Uruguay.

Steven Davis was rested in Monday’s 1-0 win at Swindon Town as a precaution, because of injury, and he will be assessed before this evening’s fixture.

Graziano Pelle, who signed from Feyenoord this summer, should get another run out, while fellow new arrival Dusan Tadic is also likely to feature.

Morgan Schneiderlin, who made it to the World Cup quarter-finals with France, will not be involved, as he is not due back at the club until this weekend.

Next Thursday’s trip to Brighton will be the first possible involvement for the midfielder.

Saints have just two friendly fixtures left on their schedule after this evening. The first is the clash with the Seagulls, ahead of a home game against Bayer Leverkusen on August 9.

Koeman, who changed his entire team at half-time in the first two games of the summer, gave the bulk of his starting line-up at Swindon an hour before replacing them.

He is keen for his side to be given an even stronger challenge tonight, and will be looking for an increase in intensity.

Saints have signed 15-year-old goalkeeper Neal Osborn from Torquay United. The youngster has been plucked from the Gulls’ academy and moves to St Mary’s. Torquay described the fee paid by Saints as “significant” and said the deal represented a five-figure sum to them, with possible add-ons in the future.