Alan Pardew is in a confident mood as Saints head into their third game inside a week on Friday evening.
The boss has almost a full strength squad to choose from and anticipates strong performances across the team.
"We had to rest a few of our Saturday team on Tuesday night, so they will come back fresh, and I'm looking for them to have big, big games," he said. "I don't like having these players left out, so they will need to show me that they have been left out for the right reasons and that they can come back and be the flag bearers for us on the night.
"People like Radhi Jaidi, Neal Trotman and Adam Lallana all got rested so I am expecting them to have good games. We are ready for this game. We couldn't be more ready for it, so I am looking forward to it.
"We were very pleased with the Gillingham performance, but obviously not so pleased with the Tuesday night game. We got ourselves in a bit of a pickle and some old habits returned to haunt us, but we managed to put it right in the end.
"I suppose if the scenario was going to be a difficult night then that was probably the best way that we could come back which was something that we haven't done so far this season. So that was nice, the penalties were clinical and we got the win."
Friday night's trip to Southend represents another strong challenge as Saints return to League One action and the prospect of a first away win still looms.
"That's something, but also three wins on the trot is something we haven't done in a long while so it will be a great night if we can get a result there," Pardew explained. "It is a difficult place to go, they play on a Friday night for a reason. It is a strategic move to get a better atmosphere and to fill the place up by attracting the people who go to games on a Saturday who might want to take in a Southend game as well.
"It's a tough game, and one of the toughest away games of the season in my view, but we are in good fettle for it, they played Tuesday, we did too so I would like to think we will be strong enough to get a win.
"Their team are strong and they have a good striker in Barnard, who I think leads the way in the scoring charts so it will be a good test between him and Lambert. They are different players with different styles so it will be a good test for both of them on the night."
The atmosphere of an evening kick-off combined with the compact surroundings at Roots Hall are other factors that Pardew has taken into consideration.
"It always just seems to bring a bit more intensity to the game. I'm sure that our psychologists can come up with a better reason, but just as a manager, I feel that the players seem to be in a better place.
"It's not just that though, it's also the tightness of the ground at Southend, and the size of the pitch is quite small so their fans can play quite a big part in the game, although that doesn't always happen.
"It's different. Personally I think that on those grounds the fans can get more involved and can influence proceedings more, so that's the main difference I think."
Despite having a Saturday free, Pardew will be using the time wisely by doing his homework on the next visitors to St. Mary's in a fortnight's time.
"It won't be a weekend off as I am going to watch MK Dons on Saturday, but I am very much looking forward to Friday night and seeing our fans as they have been brilliant away from home, so we are all hoping that we can get them a win."
