SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown has yet to decide who will start between the sticks for the Shrimpers this season.

Mark Oxley and Ted Smith will battle it out to be Blues’ number one choice.

And Brown revealed the two custodians are currently neck-and-neck in the race to start against Blackburn Rovers.

“It’s 50/50 for the goalkeeping position at the moment,” he said.

“Mark and Ted both played 20 odd games last season and they’re both on the starting blocks at the moment.

“They are very equal right now but they are both going to get more games in pre-season and I’ll make the decision in the final week.”

Oxley started last season as the Shrimpers’ first choice and made 24 appearances before suffering an elbow injury in December which ultimately ended his campaign.

Smith replaced Oxley and played 21 games before suffering a wrist injury which forced him to miss the final seven games of the season.

However, both goalkeepers are now back to full fitness and have appeared throughout pre-season in a bid to nail down a starting slot.