Lambert, who won two promotions at Saints, believes the dressing room will be “buzzing” amid a 14-game unbeaten run which has lifted them to sixth.
But the St Mary’s still have to face promotion hopefuls Wrexham, Derby and Ipswich following Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal.
Former England striker Lambert believes this is an exciting time for the club, which he helped propel from League One to the Premier League.
“I was hoping Saints were going to be that team in form by this stage of the season and they are,” he told the Daily Echo.
Rickie Lambert scored for Saints Legends (Image: Stuart Martin/Southampton FC)
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“It could have been one of many teams, but it’s Southampton and that dressing room will be in a great place right now. They will be buzzing.
“This is the place you want to be in your career, across your whole career. I’m excited for them. They’re still in the FA Cup, too. It’s a brilliant time.”
Promotion seemed like a distant possibility when head coach Tonda Eckert took the reins of a Saints side sitting 21st in the table in November.
The German coach has guided the club up to sixth in the table, above Wrexham on goal difference, with only seven league games to play.
Lambert has worked with some of the greatest managers in the club’s history, and believes the current head coach deserves a lot of praise.
“To go from a season that was struggling, we didn’t know where they were going, to be in this position now, it’s full credit to Eckert,” he added.
Tonda Eckert won the Championship Manager of the Month award for February. (Image: Stuart Martin)
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“I can’t imagine what the dressing room was like when he walked in there. To get it the way it is now, well done to him.”
Clean sheets have been a key part of Southampton’s recent victories, with loanee goalkeeper Daniel Peretz coming in for repeated praise.
Saints have kept clean sheets in six of their last 12 games, and former striker Lambert believes that gives those further up the pitch a boost.
“When you know you have a chance of winning the game by only scoring the one, that gives everyone so much confidence,” Lambert added.
“As a player, you know that you don’t have to go out and score two or three. I’m confident for them, but I don’t want to jinx them.
“I wished for them to be in this position. What happened last season hurt them, it really did, and I thought it would cost them this year.
“But they look like they’ve come through it now, and if they do get into the play-offs, that will only come to serve them well.”