SOUTHEND’S director of rugby Chris Green could return to action for the first time in two years when he takes his team to Lydney tomorrow for a hugely important National Two South encounter.

The Seasiders are currently second from bottom in the standings, a place below Lydney who sit just above the relegation zone.

And Green, who had been forced to the sidelines with arm and back injuries, could therefore return to help the team try and get their season back on track.

“I will be in the squad for the game and can hopefully bring something else to the side if I do play,” said Green, 34.

“We have been missing a bit of experience so far this season but that’s not knocking the younger lads because you can only know what about what you’ve come across in your career.

“I will be hoping to help them out if I’m involved and there’s no denying it’s a very big game.

“Lydney are just ahead of us in the table and we don’t want that gap to open up even more so we need to go there and win.”

Lydney are five points clear of Southend right now and could stretch their advantage to 10 points with a high scoring victory at the weekend.

The Seasiders will be keen to stop that happening but they have not won away from home since beating Shelford in December 11.

Since then, they have suffered 14 successive defeats on the road.

But, as they bid to end the run of bad results, Southend will also be boosted by the return of captain Michael Guess and prolific points scorer Andrew Frost.

Guess missed last weekend’s defeat to Henley with an illness while Frost, who has yet to play this season, was ruled out with an infected arm.

Full back Mark Billings is also likely to return but Lee Guess is still ruled out with an ankle problem.

Southend go in to the game on the back of six successive defeats but Lydney have been showing signs of improvement in recent weeks, winning three of their last four matches.