Southend United chief Steve Tilson believes his side could be facing their toughest test of the season so far when they host Norwich City tonight.

The Blues chief scout has told the Southend boss that the Canaries are the strongest side he has seen in League One this year.

And Tilson is therefore expecting one of the hardest games of the whole campaign at Roots Hall this evening.

"Our scout's report didn't make for nice reading because it said Norwich were the best team he had seen all season," Tilson told Blues Player.

"It's something I was probably expecting because they have been in really good form of late in the league and we know that we are going to be in for a very hard game."

Southend, who sit 11th in the table, are certainly up for the challenge though and Tilson is expected to hand three players their home debuts.

On loan defenders Sean Morrison and Scott Malone look set to figure for the first time at Roots Hall while new signing Jabo Ibehre could get the nod in attack.

The attacker joined on loan last week from MK Dons and Tilson has admitted he sees Ibehre as a striker, not a right winger.

"I've only ever seen him play as a forward and that's what he is," he said.

"That's where he will play for us and he's someone who is a nuisance for teams to play against so hopefully he can do well for us while he's here."