Southend could be forced to field a makeshift strikeforce to face the Bulls on the opening day.
Strikers Barry Corr and Blair Sturrock both picked up injuries in the final game of last season, and the pair are still struggling with fitness. 21 goal Corr is expected to be out until the end of August with a knee problem, while Sturrock is awaiting the results of two injections into an ankle problem and could yet face surgery to resolve the issue. If both miss the opening game, veteran Neil Harris would be the only experienced striker currently available to boss Paul Sturrock.
Meanwhile the Shrimpers are submitting another planning application for their new stadium. The plan is now split into three phases, with only the scaled-down stadium itself and a hotel being built immediately. They hope to being the project in October but face further delays having yet to secure all the land they need for the project.