KEVIN Maher wants Southend United to carry on from where they left off when Eastleigh visit Roots Hall on Saturday.

The Shrimpers won back to back home games before seeing their last two games postponed due to frozen pitches.

But Saturday’s clash with the Spitfires looks set to go ahead and Maher is confident the enforced fortnight break will not have made much difference to his side.

“They’re all fit anyway and they’re at the stage of the season where their fitness is good,” said Maher.

“The confidence is OK as well because of what we’ve done in previous games but it’s disappointing not to have played but it is what it is.

“We’ve trained well this week and we’ll be ready.”

The Shrimpers dropped to eighth in the National League standings after seeing their midweek match at Maidenhead United called off.

But Maher feels Blues are heading into their third successive home game in good spirits.

“We’ve performed ever so well against Solihull and followed that up against Darlington in the cup,” said Maher.

“We want a similar performance on Saturday and we want to push on again.”

Eastleigh - who are managed by Maher’s former Southend team-mate Lee Bradbury - will arrive at Roots Hall sitting 11th in the standings.

And Maher is expecting another stern test against the Hampshire based side who beat Blues 2-1 back in August.

“It will be a tough game, like it was earlier in the season,” said Maher.

“I thought we played ever so well for a large part of that game but got done by two free-kicks.

“We’re looking forward to getting back out there though.

“It will be another tough one but it will be one we’re ready for.

"I know Lee really well and they’re away form probably hasn’t been as good as he would’ve liked but their home form is good and they’re very tough to beat.

“They will provide another tough test.”

And Maher will not allow the poor state of the Roots Hall pitch to become an excuse against Eastleigh, who have triumphed just once on the road this season.

“The Darlington game caused the pitch some issues but we want to play and it will be the same for both teams once we cross that white line,” said Maher.

“We have a lot of home games coming up so it’s going to be tested.

“But we will make sure we’ll put a performance in that warrants results rather than looking for excuses.”