Southend United will be bidding to stretch their unbeaten run in the National League to 10 matches when they welcome Woking to Roots Hall on Saturday afternoon.
The home side are currently 11th in the table, 10 points off the playoff positions, while Woking occupy 14th, four points behind their opponents in this weekend's contest.
Match preview
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Had Southend not been handed a 10-point deduction by the National League for breaching financial rules, the Essex outfit would currently be in the playoff positions heading into the final straight.
Instead, the Blues are 11th in the table, 10 points off seventh-placed Altrincham, meaning that they will need a lot to go in their favour in order to sneak into the top seven before the end of the season.
Southend have not actually been beaten in the National League since February 10, when they lost 1-0 at home to York City, going nine games unbeaten at this level of football, but too many draws have cost them, sharing the points in four of their last five matches.
Kevin Maher's side will enter this match off the back of a 0-0 draw with Hartlepool United last weekend, but they did record a 2-0 win against Dorking Wanderers in their last home game on March 12.
The Shrimpers have the fifth-best home record in the National League this season, picking up 38 points from 20 matches, but Woking have been relatively solid on their travels, claiming 24 points from 20 games.
Woking finished fourth in the National League last season, but they were beaten by Bromley in the quarter-finals of the playoffs, keeping them in the fifth tier of English football.
The Cardinals have performed below expectations this term, currently sitting down in 14th position in the table, four points behind their opponents this weekend, but the Surrey outfit are in strong form.
Indeed, Michael Doyle's side have won four of their last five league matches, including a 1-0 victory over Barnet last weekend, with Kevin Berkoe netting the only goal of the contest.
Woking are 14 points off the playoffs with just six matches left, so it will take a minor miracle for them to finish in the top seven, with their attention likely to have already switched to next season.
Team News
Harry Taylor and Ollie Kensdale both featured in Southend's behind-closed-doors friendly against Leyton Orient on Tuesday afternoon, and the pair could now come into contention for this contest.
Jack Bridge dropped down to the bench against Hartlepool, but the number seven is likely to come back into the midfield on Saturday.
Henry Sandat will be bidding to keep his role in the final third of the field alongside Harry Cardwell, who has scored 15 times in all competitions for Southend during the 2023-24 campaign.
As for Woking, head coach Doyle could name an unchanged side from the one that took to the field for the first whistle against Barnet last time out.
Charley Kendall has scored four times in 12 appearances for the club and should continue in the final third, while Alfie Pavey, who is yet to score this term, should also keep his spot.
Dion Kelly-Evans was suspended against Barnet but is expected to be back in the squad at Roots Hall, while Rohan Ince will be bidding to return to the XI on Saturday afternoon.
Southend United possible starting lineup:
Andeng Ndi; Demetriou, Crowther, Woodman, Ralph; Scott-Morriss, Bridge, Miley, Husin; Sandat, Cardwell
Woking possible starting lineup:
Jaaskelainen; Moss, Wilkinson, Cuthbert, Berkoe; Anderson, Odusina, Luker; Edwards; Pavel, Kendall
We say: Southend United 2-1 Woking
This is a tough match to predict, as Woking will enter the contest in strong form, but Southend are unbeaten in their last nine matches and will have home advantage. It would not be a surprise to see another draw for the Blues this weekend, but we are predicting a narrow success for Maher's team.
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