Peterborough United manager believes Southend United will be very dangerous opponents as Posh try to keep the pressure on the top two in League One

Josh Knight and Niall Mason could both start for Posh against Southend. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

On the face of it Posh entertaining Southend at the Weston Homes Stadium (7.45pm) is one of the biggest home bankers of the season.

Posh have collected 33 points from 15 home matches - the second highest total in the division - and they’ve won their last five matches in thrilling style, including four against serious promotion rivals. Posh have now scored 60 goals, six more than any other League One side.

Southend would be rock bottom of League One by seven points, but for Bolton’s 12-point deduction and have won just three of 29 League One games, conceding 72 goals on the way - 15 more than any other team in the division.

Rhys Bennett could start for Posh against Southend.

But Ferguson insists those statistics must not lead to a drop in recent standards.

“This is a very dangerous game for us,” Ferguson admitted. “All the expectation will be on us to win, but the players know that will only happen if they maintain the standards and intensity of recent performances.

“I’m confident they will. I see a group of players, and I’m not just talking about the starters, who realise that running hard and playing with intensity delivers victories. They want to run and they want to play. I even believe there is better to come.

“I have been surprised how quickly the new players have settled into the club and they’ve certainly helped give us an upsurge in energy both in matches and in training.

“We just have to keep winning. All we’ve given ourselves at the moment is an opportunity. This league is tight now and it will stay tight for the rest of the season. Other teams will catch us up in games played before the end of the month so all we can do is keep winning ours and see where it takes us.

“It’s going as well as it can do at the moment. We’ve been winning, scoring goals and keeping clean sheets, but we must keep going. It’s irrelevant who we are playing. Our standards have to stay high. Every game can be difficult.”

Ferguson has been forced to make changes for the first time in six games with two key defenders ruled out. Niall Mason is expected to replace injury victim Frankie Kent, while either Rhys Bennett or Josh Knight will take over from Nathan Thompson who is suspended.