NEIL Harris believes Millwall will be facing one of the form sides in League One when they meet Southend on Saturday.
The Lions are on a 10-game unbeaten run but will be up against a Shrimpers side that has lost just once in their last 17 league fixtures, moving from the relegation zone to the play-off places over that period since a 3-0 defeat at Rochdale in October.
Millwall lost 3-1 at Roots Hall in the league in September, before an 88th-minute Mahlon Romeo strike knocked Southend out of the FA Cup first round in December.
Phil Brown’s side are currently in sixth place in League One, but Millwall would jump above them with a win this weekend.
“Southend are in really good form,” Harris said. “We’ve had two tough, close encounters with them this season, at home in the FA Cup and away in the league.
“I expect a real feisty, competitive, aggressive derby. They’ve got a lot of size and presence in their team.
“They’ll also bring a big away following to the game because they’re doing well. We’ll need our fans to get behind us and help carry the boys. We hope they can make it a cauldron-like atmosphere.
“It’s a big game and it’s the most important game of the season because it’s the next one, it’s the most significant.
“We’re coming up against one of if not the most in-form team in the league over the last couple of months.”
Image: Millwall FC