Blues centre-half Peter Clarke hopes to succeed where other defences have failed on Saturday, as the 26-year-old will be facing Leicester City's in-form forward Matt Fryatt who has already scored 19 goals this season.
However, speaking to the Southend Evening Echo, Clarkey wants to keep him quiet and help his side pick up more points: "Fryatt's an excellent player and is someone who has always shown an ability to score goals. He showed that when he was at Walsall and he's doing it again now. He's in great form and we know it's going to be a busy afternoon on Saturday. But between us we want to keep him quiet to get something out of the game."
Taking anything away from the Walkers Stadium will be a tough enough anyway as Leicester have lost just one of their nine home games this term, a stastic that has helped them to the top of the league.
Still, it's just another challange to the competitive Clarke: "We've been a little bit up and down lately but if we play to our full potential then we can get something there. Leicester are doing well and are another well-organised side but it's a good game to play in. We've had some disruption lately with loan players leaving and others arriving but that's the nature of the beat. I'm sure once everyone settles in we will do OK again and hopefully that can start from Saturday."
However, it still remains to be seen whether Peter has a long-term future at the club. After failing to agree a new contract during the summer, the former Blackpool defender was placed on the transfer list.
And, with his current deal expiring at the end of the season, Clarke is free to speak with other sides in just three weeks time: "There is nothing more to report on right now. There might be something to say in a few weeks time but at the moment I'm just concentrating on my football and all the games we have coming up."