SOUTHEND United's youth team manager Ricky Duncan wants his promising Shrimpers side to continue their recent resurgence in the first round of the FA Youth Cup tonight.

The Blues babes have turned around their shaky start to the season.

And Duncan is demanding another impressive display when Croydon Athletic visit Roots Hall, kick off 7.30pm.

"The FA Youth Cup is always a very big occasion for the boys and it's no different tonight," said Duncan.

"It's a chance for the team to play at a stadium and it would be nice to have a good run in the competition.

"We're playing well again now; we've drawn two and won three of our last six games and the confidence is back in the team.

"All of our injuries have cleared up too and we're looking good going into the game."

But despite the upturn in fortunes Duncan is also warning his troops not to get too over-confident.

Croydon's first team currently play in Ryman Division One South but Duncan believes that will count for nothing.

"It's not like it was a few years ago," he said. "They are a college-based side, like so many of these clubs are now, and they are going to be very well organised.

"Their players will probably train more than ours do at times and they will be coming here looking to make things for tricky for us."

The winners of tonight's tie, which will go to extra times and penalties if required, will be at home to Whyteleafe or Barnet in the second round.

And although Duncan hopes his team will progress he was again quick to point out what really mattered at this level.

"It's all about bringing players through," he insisted.

"Of course we want to win games but seeing Franck Moussa play the full 90 minutes for the first team at Northampton on Saturday and having Johnny Herd travel up as well with the squad as 17th man is far more important.

"That's what we want to see more of too."

Southend (from): MacDonald, Harvey, Hopkins, Jones, Herd, Priest, Lokando, Thurlbourne, Morris, Lindie, Henry, O'Keefe, Forshaw, Abbey, Byrne, Abalimba and Ljungstrom.

Prices have been set at £3 adults and £1 concessions for tonight's tie.