BLUES goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan heads back to the scene of his first ever match for Southend United tomorrow, believing his side have already done enough to reach the play-offs.

The Shrimpers shot-stopper made his Southend debut at Brunton Park back in 2001, when Southend lost 3-1.

And 345 games later the custodian is relishing another top six finish.

"I hope it's not the kiss of death me saying it, but I think we've already done enough to make sure of our place in the play-offs," said Flahavan, 30.

"We're nine points ahead of Walsall with three games to go and also have a better goal difference, so it looks good and hopefully that means we can go into the remaining games in a more relaxed frame of mind."

To make mathematically certain of a final position in the play-offs Blues need one more point from their remaining three fixtures.

But Flahavan has warned the Shrimpers to not settle for a share of the spoils against Carlisle.

"I think that if we went there and played for a point it would be suicidal," said the former Southampton trainee.

"We can go there and win it if we play like we can because we're a good side now.

"I don't remember too much about my debut because it was a long time ago now but I do know the team is a million times better these days.

"We've done well to get back into the position we're in and the only frustrating thing is that if we had picked up more points at the start of the season or over Christmas it would be automatic promotion we were going for.

"But it's a tremendous run we're on and we want to keep it going so we can go into the play-offs still full of confidence."

The Shrimpers' assistant manager Paul Brush is also demanding more of the same as Blues attempt to make it 13 games unbeaten.

And he does not want to be enduring a miserable coach journey home.

"We are approaching the game in the right way and are flying up but we're getting the coach back which will seem to last forever if we lose," he said.

"The trip seems to go on forever at the best of times so we want to make sure we're have something to celebrate on the way back.

"The midweek results with Walsall losing to Bristol Rovers have given us a boost.

"But we want to make sure of our play-off place and not rely on anyone else doing us a favour."

Southend have no new injury concerns ahead of their longest trip of the season.

But striker Hal Robson Kanu will again be sidelined with the Achilles problem which has seen him miss Blues' last four matches.

"Hal should be back running next week but this game has come too early for him again," Brush confirmed.

Southend (from): Flahavan, Francis, Clarke, Barrett, Mulgrew, Black, McCormack, Bailey, Gower, Walker, Barnard, Revell, MacDonald, Collis, Grant and Moussa.