Dagenham & Redbridge boss Daryl McMahon expects a tough test against lowly National League rivals Southend in the Buildbase FA Trophy this weekend.

Kevin Maher's men will arrive at Victoria Road with just one defeat in six matches after a 1-0 win at Weymouth last weekend, which moved them up to 19th place, while Daggers climbed to fourth with a 2-2 draw at Torquay United that extended their unbeaten run to six matches in all competitions.

Two goals from Sam Ling, after Mo Sagaf's opener, led Daggers to a 3-0 home win when the sides met in front of a crowd of 3,673 in late October, but McMahon warned: "I think it will be a much, much different game. When we played them last time it was Kevin's first game at Southend and they've recruited some players since then.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Sam Ling heads home the third goal for Dagenham & Redbridge against Southend UnitedSam Ling heads home the third goal for Dagenham & Redbridge against Southend United (Image: ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468)

"They will be far better now than they were then if I'm being honest, so it will be a tough game. There will be a big crowd there as well and we're looking forward to that.

"I thought our fans who travelled down (to Torquay) were superb, it's a long way to come in these conditions on a Saturday so we thank them for that as well.

"It's amazing to come all this way in this weather and to be 2-0 down, they were behind the team the whole time.

"I think they believe in this team and they trust in this team and they enjoy watching this team and I thought the 79 will probably go home disappointed we haven't won because of the amount of chances we created but enjoying watching their team play here."

Matt Robinson did not make the long trip down to Devon last weekend, but McMahon hopes to have him available for consideration once again to face the Shrimpers.

He added: "He got a tight hamstring in training so we felt travelling down here, sitting on the train wouldn't be good for the hamstring to get him onto the pitch.

"We'd seen the weather forecast before and knew it was probably going to be a heavy pitch so we left him at home to get ready for next week."