To be honest the club doesn't have much choice, with two league games remnaining and all the injuries about, which senior member of the squad could be risked anyway?
So it's off to Barton Rovers Sharpenhoe ground for the under-18, er, reserve side, in their penaultimate Totesport Football Combination East Division game Tuesday evening, kicking off at 19.00.
At least coach Ricky Duncan will know this lot and good luck to them, whatever team the Hatters put out.
Result and report on S24 as soon as we get it.
Southend United: Bentley, Ferdinand, Whittikar, Reynolds, Nesbitt, Okai, James-Lewis, Woodyard, Milner, Ekim, O'Archie.
Subs: Smith, Abdellah, Paxman, Furlonge, Baucutt, Chambers.