The reserve team boss and Head of Youth Ricky Duncan is away on a training course.
Left back Johnny Herd will also start along wih Chelsea lonee Lee Sawyer and winger Damien Scannell, who will hope to get a full 90 minutes in.
A full report will appear later on S24.
Southend United: Joyce, Dennis, Clayton, Whittikar, Herd, Okai, Sawyer, O'Keefe, Scannell, Calver, Asante.
Subs: Crawford, Milner, Owinja, Osifuwa, Dunn, James-Lewis.