SOUTHEND will be without their five-goal leading scorer Lee Barnard against Bristol Rovers tomorrow because of a hamstring injury.

And there is no guarantee that experienced former Crystal Palace marksman Dougie Freedman will be available either.

He has missed the last four games with a thigh problem and returned to training only yesterday, so it remains to be seen whether manager Steve Tilson will gamble on throwing the 34-year-old straight back into the fray.

The likelihood is that their front line will consist of Alex Revell and James Walker, the former Charlton youngster who made four loan appearances for the Gas in 2006.

At least one of the Shrimpers' five loanees will be missing tomorrow as left-back Dan Harding, who is on Ipswich's books, is suspended.

It means right-footed Simon Francis will continue at left-back with Osei Sankosa on the opposite flank, while former Pirates skipper Adam Barrett and Peter Clarke occupy the central spots.

Three of Southend's four midfielders are loan signings, the exception being former Bristol City player Kevin Betsy, who operates on the right.

Lee Sawyer (Chelsea) and Jean-Francois Christophe (Portsmouth) take the central spots, while Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading) plays out on the left.

That just leaves the keeper, Adam Federici, who has just had his loan spell from the Madejski Stadium extended for another month.