The Shrimpers had to settle for a point on Saturday following their 1-1 draw against Wycombe following the departure of 17-goal top scorer Lee Barnard to Southampton last week.
On-loan Sunderland defender Jean-Yves M'Voto is still continuing his rehabilitation from hip surgery and remains a doubt.
However, defender Scott Malone is a definite absentee after playing his final game of his loan spell against the Chairboys, he has now returned to parent club Wolves. But manager Steve Tilson has already confirmed that he will be speaking to Molineux boss Mick McCarthy this week about the 19-year-old's future.
Malone's enforced absence may give 20-year-old Johnny Herd a chance to shine having featured only seven times during their League One campaign so far.
Striker Matt Paterson, who came to Southend as part of the £175,000 deal that took Barnard to Saints, is assured of a starting berth after impressing on his debut and will once again partner Francis Laurent in attack.
