SOUTHEND Saxons will be taking their “cup final mentality” into Saturday’s clash at Norwich.

Southend top of the Regional Two Anglia table after winning 13 matches in succession.

But co-captain Ben Lloyd is taking nothing for granted this weekend, despite Norwich sitting bottom of the table.

“We’ve spoke a lot internally about taking every weekend as an individual challenge,” said Lloyd.

“We know that for most teams we play now it will be a big fixture and everyone would love to knock us off of top spot.

“It has to be a cup final mentality for us too and we have to stay completely dialled in every week.

“String all of those together and we’ll be in a good spot.

“Norwich are fighting for their lives at the bottom end of the table, they’ll fight for everything and they’ll jump at any opportunities you give them, so it’s up to us to minimise those chances as well as creating and finishing as many of ours as we can.”

Southend did that last time out with a 69-15 win against Saffron Walden.

And Lloyd was pleased to return from the Christmas break with another big victory.

“It was hugely pleasing to come back and get a very convincing win,” said Lloyd.

“The way we were playing before the break it was all about getting back to where we were and not having any sort of drop off, which could easily have happened with so long off.

“The torrential rain in that week didn’t help matters and training had to be modified, so it was extra pleasing for us to put on that sort of display.

“It shows the mental resilience of this group too.”

Southend will need to consistently perform to a high level if they are to stay top of the table for the remainder of the campaign.

And Lloyd feels Saxons are now better equipped to maintain a push for the title.

“We’re far more well rounded than we have been in previous seasons and if Plan A isn’t functioning we have plan B and plan C we can move to on,” said Lloyd.

“But we also can’t rely on someone else to get the job done.

“We have to fight for everything we get and that’s our mentality every week.”