SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown remains a big fan of the FA Cup and is keen to secure more highlights in the competition this season.

Brown’s side host Conference club Chester in the first round at Roots Hall tomorrow.

And the Blues boss is desperate to come out on top in a bid to be paired with a Premier League side at a later stage.

“I’m a big fan of the FA Cup,” confirmed Brown.

“I played in the second division for the majority of my own career and the highlights are look back on with most fondness are mostly FA Cup games.

“I got to sample big games at places like Anfield, Highbury and Goodison Park among others and I want to take our players to place like that.

“I want to help them get some highlights of their own and have big games to look back on in later years.”

However, Brown is refusing to look beyond Chester at this stage as he believes they will be tough to beat tomorrow.

Steve Burr’s side are currently 14th in the Conference but Brown insists the visitors will be fired up to secure a shock win.

“They will see us as a scalp but we’ve got our eyes firmly fixed on reaching the second round ourselves,” said Brown.

“It won’t be easy by any stretch of the imagination because Chester play with a good tempo and have good experience too.

“We will have to bring our A game to the table if we’re going to beat them.

“We will also need to deal with the physical side of the game and keeping our discipline will be important too.

“Chester had another player sent off in their game at Eastleigh last weekend.

“They have a couple of players suspended now and it suggests they could have a problem in that area.”

Brown hopes to avoid any kind of confrontation this weekend and also remains keen to resolve his future at Roots Hall.

The Shrimpers boss is still in talks with chairman Ron Martin about a contract extension which would keep Brown at the club until 2017.

And the former Hull City chief believes the situation could be unsettling for his players.

“I’d like to get it put behind us and sorted out,” said Brown.

“At the moment I think it’s unsettling for everybody.

“It’s unsettling for me, the backroom staff and my players. “ Blues have slightly doubts about winger David Worrall (groin) and centre-back Jakub Sokolik (knee) but both are expected to be fit.