The League Two playoff semi-final between Southend United and Stevenage is finely poised going into Thursday night's second leg at Roots Hall.

Although 12 points separated the pair in the final league table, they sat side by side in the standings and there was little between them in the first leg on Sunday, with Barry Corr cancelling out Dean Parrett's opener to give Southend a draw to take back to Essex.

Southend

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The Shrimpers were primed for automatic promotion going into the final day of the regular season after seven wins and seven clean sheets in a row in April, but it all went wrong 10 days ago as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at Morecambe to hand third place to Bury and drop behind Wycombe Wanderers on goal difference in the playoffs.

That meant a semi-final against Stevenage for Phil Brown's side, who are hoping to return to League One after five seasons in the fourth tier.

Their charge for automatic promotion this season was built on a solid defence. The Shrimpers kept clean sheets in half of their games this season - as many as anyone else - and also let in a league-low nine goals at home.

Corr is the club's top scorer this term and his equaliser on the hour mark at the Lamex Stadium on Sunday was his 16th in all competitions this term.

Southend are hoping it is third time lucky for them in the playoffs after failing to get promoted when making the top seven in two of the last three seasons.

Recent form: WWWWLD

Stevenage

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Graham Westley's side are still in with a good chance of gaining promotion straight back to League One after relegation a year ago.

They finished the season with 15 points out of a possible 24 to secure their place in the top seven and had the luxury of resting some players in their final game of the season at Luton Town.

At home they were the third-best team in the division, but they struggled on the road with just five away wins all season - no-one in the top 14 had fewer away victories.

However, only league champions Burton Albion (69) scored more goals than Stevenage (67) this season, but their attack has dried up a little recently with just two goals in their last three games.

The goals have been shared well amongst the team, but none of the squad has reached double figures, with defender Charlie Lee the club's top marksman with nine.

Recent form: WWDWLD

Team News

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A goalless first half at the Lamex Stadium on Sunday was punctuated by a gruesome clash of heads between Michael Timlin and Bira Dembele.

Neither man is expected to play after the hefty collision, which required a total of 22 stitches between the two players. Of the two, Stevenage skipper Dembele has a better chance of featuring, but he could be replaced by Jon Ashton in the visitors' starting lineup.

Westley has few other selection issues, but opposite number Brown might be forced into some changes.

Shrimpers captain John White was close to missing the first leg, and his hamstring injury will be closely monitored ahead of the second leg. Ryan Leonard (hip) and Will Atkinson (calf) are also slight doubts, but both should be fit.

Southend possible starting lineup:
Bentley, White, Coker, Worrall, Deegan, Corr, Atkinson, Bolger, Leonard, McLaughlin, Barrett

Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Day, Whelpdale, Wells, Ashton, Okimo, Pett, Bond, Parrett, Deacon, Lee, Beardsley

Referee: Andy Madley

Head To Head

The two teams have only recently met five times since 2010, with Southend winning two, Stevenage one and also two draws.

Both home teams won during the regular season, with Stevenage claiming a 4-2 win in February after Southend won 2-0 at Roots Hall in their opening home league match of the season.

When hosting Stevenage, Southend have won both of the recent meetings without conceding a goal.

We say: Southend 2-1 Stevenage

The Shrimpers have been far from their best in the last two games, but Stevenage's away form suggests that they will be the team missing out on Wembley. Both sides could be without key players, though, and it might not be as clear cut as some will predict.

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