It's 14th v 9th at Roots Hall as Pompey look for a second successive Super Saturday on the road.
Last week's win at MK Dons courtesy of late goals by Matt Clarke and Conor Chaplin moved Pompey to within three points of the top six.
Tuesday's case of the biter bit, when Pompey let in a late one to lose 2-1 to Blackburn, shuffled them a point further away from the play off zone but they remain in a position most would have been happy with before the season began.
This weekend sees them try to complete the double over the team Chris Powell recently inherited from Phil Brown. Brett Pitman headed the only goal when the sides met at Fratton in November.
Pompey manager Kenny Jackett has urged his side to concentrate for 90 minutes to avoid another late goal, like those that have cost his team a point against Blackburn and Rotherham in the past month.
He heads to Essex believing the Blues should certainly be thinking of trying to push themselves into play-off contention between now and the end of the season.
The boss told the club website: 'We’ve flirted with the play-offs for most of the season and have been chasing the top six. And that’s where we are now — there is still 100 per cent an opportunity for us to get there if we can put a run together.
'I don’t think it’s been the case that we’ve really stamped our authority on this division, but we have definitely been more than competitive. Now it’s a second away game in a row against a side who have recently changed their manager and they’ve had some very good recent results.
'It was a tight match at Fratton Park earlier in the season and we just edged it. I’m expecting something similar on Saturday. There are no easy games in this division — I know it’s a cliché, but it’s certainly true. You have to be ready to adapt. But if we aspire to get into the play-off places then we have to look to pick up points against everybody.'
Conor Chaplin is likely to start once again after scoring in back to back games while Jack Whatmough and Brandon Haunstrup are both pressing for a place in the matchday squad after proving their fitness in training.
Pompey could rise as high as seventh with a win. But Southend's incentive is that a home victory could move them into the top half and to within two points of the Blues.
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