Team news

Shrimpers boss must decide whether to stick or twist Paul Sturrock must again decide whether to stick or twist with his Southend XI as they aim to pick up three much-needed points at home to Rotherham on Friday night.

The Shrimpers boss was livid with his side's performance against Swindon and duly made two changes for last Saturday's clash at Plymouth, only to see them throw away a two-goal lead in the final four minutes to draw 2-2.

Midfielder Kane Ferdinand, dropped to the bench for the Home Park encounter, could come back in, as could on-loan striker Jack Sampson, who is expected to have overcome a minor back strain which ruled him out. The fixture is set to be the final one of Sampson's initial month-long stay from Bolton.

David Martin and Bilel Mohsni came into the line-up and will be hoping to keep their places, while the likes of Neil Harris and Elliot Benyon are pushing for recalls.

Defender Mark Phillips faces another late fitness test on his groin injury, but Ryan Leonard, Barry Corr, Harry Crawford (all knee) and Lee Sawyer (thigh) remain absent.

Supporters and groudstaff have been working hard to ensure the Roots Hall pitch gets the go ahead.

Rotherham manager Andy Scott is confident the game can beat the weather.

"We're pretty confident," he said. "They've got covers on the pitch, but we aren't going to know until the covers are taken back and then we are reliant on the elements.

"We're preparing for the game as if it's going ahead. If we have to go down there and turn around and come back then that's what we'll have to do." Scott could hand a debut to on-loan Shaun Harrad.

The Millers bagged the Bury striker on a month's emergency loan on Wednesday and he could go straight into the side at Roots Hall.

Rotherham's game last week against Torquay was postponed and that has given their injured players more time to recover, meaning defender Johnny Mullins (hamstring) could be in contention, but forward Gareth Evans (back) remains sidelined.

Regardless of whether Mullins makes it or not, Scott will name his 17th different defensive combination of the season as Michael Raynes serves a ban for his red card at Dagenham a fortnight ago so Ryan Cresswell and Richard Naylor are vying for his spot.

Luke Foster (knee) is the only long-term absentee as Scott's side face the difficult task of ending a run of three successive defeats in Essex.

Southend vs Rotherham

Last modified 22:07 10/02/12

Debut delight for Harrad Shaun Harrad marked his Rotherham debut with a goal to help the Millers end their losing run with a 2-0 victory at Southend.

The 27-year-old striker, who arrived on loan from Bury on Wednesday, charged down Bilel Mohsni's attempted clearance and netted from just inside the box to put the Shrimpers in front with only nine minutes gone.

Southend thought they had equalised two minutes later but Elliot Benyon's header was ruled out for offside despite the ball appearing to have been played by a Rotherham player.

Harrad might have had a second but his header was well saved by Glenn Morris, while Rotherham goalkeeper Rhys Taylor pulled off a one-handed save to deny Ryan Hall before getting a foot to block another effort from the winger.

Southend boss Paul Sturrock brought on strikers Neil Harris and Jack Sampson to try to force a goal but former Southend striker Alex Revell made the points safe for Rotherham in the 83rd minute with a 20-yard shot that went in off the post.