BLUES' player of the year Nicky Bailey is ready to do battle with Doncaster Rovers in the League One play-offs.
Saturday's 1-1 draw with Port Vale at Roots Hall means the Shrimpers will face the Yorkshire side in a two-legged tussle, with the winners heading off to Wembley to face either Carlisle or Leeds United.
Southend's first clash with Rov-ers comes at home this Friday with the return leg taking place at the Keepmoat Stadium seven days later.
And Bailey is confident his team can come out on top.
"Whoever we were going to be up against it was going to be a real test but we think we can do it," said the 23-year-old midfielder.
"The prize at the end of it all is massive and we can't wait for the games.
"I'm sure the fans are feeling the same and having worked so hard and done so well to reach the play-offs, we don't want to go and throw that away now.
"But Doncaster are a good team and they only just missed out on automatic promotion so we will need to be on top form to beat them.
"Hopefully that will be case on Friday."
The Shrimpers go into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw against the Valiants, thanks to an equaliser from James Walker.
He netted from close range six minutes from time and Bailey insisted it was important to have avoided a defeat in the final league game of the season.
"We haven't lost and that's the important thing," he said.
"We wouldn't have wanted to go into the play-offs on the back of two defeats and that hasn't happened, so we will still be feeling good because we've only lost once in 15 games now."
And Bailey will also be in high spirits after being voted player of the year by the club's supporters.
"It means a lot for me to win it," said the tough-tackler who finished ahead of second-placed Peter Clarke and Adam Barrett in third.
"I got the same award at Barnet last year so I must be doing something right and I'm delighted.
"I would like to thank everyone who voted for me and hopefully the biggest prize of them all is still to come."
Manager Steve Tilson is also dreaming of promotion but is taking nothing for granted against a strong Doncaster side.
"They're a good footballing team and are lively up front," he said. "There isn't much between all the four teams in the play-offs and in the end you need a good performance and a bit of luck to get there.
"Hopefully we'll get them both and the most important thing is that we go into the game with no new injuries.
"Lee Barnard, Mark Gower, Alan McCormack, Nicky Bailey and all our other key players are OK and that's given us a massive boost.
"I'm glad we're going into the games without having lost to Port Vale too.
"I have never known a side take so long over goal-kicks and throws down here before, but they were obviously just looking to shut up shop and play for a point.
"That's what they did but it's always been all about what happens in the play-offs."
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