NEWPORT County face not only one of their hardest tests of the campaign to date at Roots Hall, but a club defending an era-defining clean sheet record.

If falling out of the League Two play-off positions wasn’t daunting enough for the Exiles, then the opponents surely are, Southend beaten only twice in the whole of 2015.

And not only that, but goalkeeper Dan Bentley is two home clean sheets away from breaking Southend’s all-time record, which has stood for 34-years.

If he keeps Newport at bay tomorrow night, he’ll have record a tenth successive shut-out at Roots Hall.

“Ten clean sheets on the bounce is just phenomenal,” said Blues boss Phil Brown, formerly in the Premier League with Hull City.

“We’ve put the name fortress Roots Hall up in the dressing room and it’s exactly that at the moment.

“You have to play well to beat us or even get a goal here because Dan’s been impeccable all season apart from one slight mistake.

“But one error in a season means it’s been a great year for him and the longer we can keep hold of him the better.”

Southend are a side yet to give up on an automatic promotion berth.

“We have five games and plenty to play for,” Brown said after Saturday’s win over Tranmere.

“The mentality of the squad has been first class. We have to play teams who still have plenty to play for. If somebody had given me 72 points with five games to go I would have taken it but the top three have set an unbelievable pace.”

Bentley is calm about the potential to be a recorder breaker for his hometown club.

“It's fantastic to do it, but the bread and butter is the three points,” the Basildon-born stopper said.

“I'd take not having a clean sheet record if we get promoted, absolutely. This Club doesn't deserve to be in League Two. I don't want to be in League Two and none of the other lads want to be in League Two.

“We have to aim to win every game now and that starts with the three points against Newport County on Tuesday night.”

The Exiles have no new injury troubles, other than midfielder Mike Flynn whose hamstring troubles have flared up again.

Defender Ismail Yakubu is available after returning from suspension and striker Chris Zebroski should also be an option for boss Jimmy Dack to again partner Aaron O’Connor in attack.

Ahead of such a daunting trip County might be forgiven for targeting a share of the spoils, but Dack insists that won’t be the case.

“We will be positive and look to win the game and there is no reason why we shouldn’t,” he said.

“We’ve won at Bury, Wycombe and Burton and drawn at Shrewsbury, so we should head there with confidence and belief that we can get the result we need.”