Southend United manager Alan Little believes tomorrow's (Saturday's) opening Third Division clash against Brighton at Roots Hall will provide an early indication of his team's hopes for the new season.

Seaside rivals Brighton are one of this year's promotion favourites, but the Shrimpers chief has told his troops - rated as 28-1 rank outsiders for elevation - to go out and prove the bookies wrong.

"My players know they don't need to fear anybody in the Third Division and they are looking forward to getting stuck into Brighton tomorrow," he said.

"This is a massive game for both sides and will be a measure of how Brighton and ourselves will shape up this season. But it's vitally important that we get off to a good start because a positive result breeds confidence."

And Little said his men were well aware of what to expect from the visiting Seagulls. "We know all about Brighton and we had two very close games last year, chalking up a win apiece," he added.

"They are a big physical side who like to give you a bit of a battering, but we need to stand strong against whatever they've got to throw at us on the pitch.

"But I don't want my players to be worried about what Brighton can do. We need to get right in amongst them straight from the kick-off ourselves and give them something to think about.

"And the players shouldn't need too much incentive to go out and get the right result because they won't get a much bigger Third Division game than this all year.

"It's like kicking off the season with the game of the season.

"There could be more than 7,000 fans in attendance at Roots Hall tomorrow, a crowd any player at this level should relish performing in front of, and I want my team to make the most of it."

New central defender Phil Whelan will have to settle for a place on the bench as he has not fully recovered from a back problem, so right-back Martyn Booty will wear the captain's arm band.

However, loan goalkeeper Andy Woodman, who has joined from Brentford, will make his league debut for Blues, as will fellow new boys, left-back Damon Searle and midfielder David Lee.

Little's fifth summer signing, attacking midfielder Scott Forbes, will be one of Southend's five substitutes.

Southend: Woodman, Booty, Searle, Roget, Morley, Tinkler, Maher, Lee, Tolson, Carruthers, Houghton. Subs: Whelan, Forbes, Cross, Connelly, Capleton.

In safe hands - Blues' new goalkeeper Andy Woodman will make his league debut at Roots Hall tomorrow in the big curtain-raiser against Brighton.

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

By Bernie Friend

Reporter's e-mail: bernie.friend@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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