However, with Wayne 'Tank' Thomas breaking ranks and impressing against his former club Burnley in the 3-2 away win, Davies may join him as one of a new breed of defenders that actually spend some time on the pitch.
Davies has height, aggression and is no slouch, qualities not traditionally attributed with our defence pre-Thomas. He has the makings of a great partnership with Thomas, but it is of course early days.
Another impressive performer, the versatile Christian Dailly, is available to cover either defensive midfield or centre back giving Burley options and vitally some competition for defence.
Jhon Viafara has played the last two games at centre back, but is needed to add bite in midfield, particularly with Safri still suspended following the slapstick red card he picked up against Bristol City.
With the personnel finally starting to slot into place, we will start to find out whether it has just been a shortage of quality defenders that has seen us ship so many goals or a shortage of organisation. Certainly individual mistakes have abounded from Saints defenders old and new.
Midfielders have left defenders exposed, strikers not closed down the source of attacks. We have suffered from a lack of consistency in personnel and selection, partly through injury, partly through Burley's tinkering. There are plenty of possible explanations.
Nearly all good sides are built from a settled back five and Saints need to find their best five and, if we can get them all onto the pitch, stick with them. Ifil, Davies and Thomas stand out as three of them, with left back more of a dilemma with Skacel at home and Vignal away a possibility.
If Davis can improve his command of his area to match the improvements in his shot stopping and error count, then we have something to build on.
We can't expect the defensive problems to be erradicated in time for Charlton at home, but it may just gives us signs of what the future holds and if our defence can start to earn the rave reviews of our prolific attack.