"The three points are always essential no matter what part of the season you're playing in.
"We're at home, we're in the mix with a lot of other clubs and it will be down to the clubs now who start to win the most games.
"Nothing changes for us. We'll be going out there with all guns blazing trying to win. Southend have had a fantastic run in the last few games, beating West Brom, who are near the top, in the last one.
"It's as I say, no football club, in any division, has the divine right to beat anybody else.
"This division is proving time and time again how difficult it is, whether you're top or you're bottom to beat each other.
"So we'll prepare properly. Set ourselves out in the right way and go out there full of confidence. There's no reason why we shouldn't be full of confidence, but we'll have to earn the right to take the three points against Southend.
"It's very difficult because there's always something up for grabs in this division. There's teams trying to stay in it and others trying to get out of it. Hopefully we'll be one of those fighting to get out of it.
"But we're at home against Southend and we do need the points."
Steve Tilson
"It'll be a hostile crowd, Cardiff is known for that, but it's a good time to play them because they haven't won for 11 games.
"We're on a decent run ourselves so it could be the right time to play them.
"We need to win as quickly as we can to keep in touch with the teams above us.
"They have a small squad and have picked up a few injuries and that's probably been their downfall.
"I don't think they'll take their eye off the ball. We haven't won away from home in the league, but we're on our best run so far this season."