A draw will be enough to take the Town to the summit of the third tier for the first time since 2005, as well as creating the club’s longest unbeaten sequence in the EFL for half-a-century.

The run currently stands at 15 matches – a feat the club last managed in 1982 – since defeat at Barnsley in mid-October. Extending the run to 16 games will be the best since the club record of 19 Football League matches unbeaten was set from the end of 1968-69 and into the 1969-70 campaign.

So, the starting line-up sees James Shea in goal behind a back four of Jack Stacey, Matty Pearson, captain Sonny Bradley and James Justin.

Just ahead of them, and returning to an old stomping ground, is former Shrimpers midfielder Alan McCormack, with Andrew Shinnie, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Luke Berry completing the diamond behind front men James Collins and Kazenga LuaLua.

The bench is also exactly the same as a week ago, with Dan Potts, George Moncur, George Thorne, Aaron Jarvis, Lloyd Jones, Alan Sheehan and goalkeeper Harry Isted.

TOWN: Shea, Stacey, Pearson, Bradley ©, Justin, McCormack, Mpanzu, Shinnie, Berry, Collins, LuaLua. Subs: Potts, Moncur, Thorne, Jarvis, Jones, Sheehan, Isted.

SOUTHEND: Bishop, Bwomono, Turner, Dieng, Cox, Yearwood, Mantom ©, Moore, Humphrys, Hart, White. Subs: Kightly, McLaughlin, Klass, Robinson, Kelman, Hutchinson, Smith (GK).

REFEREE: Thomas Bramall