Hull City will be aiming to continue their steady climb to Third Division safety at Roots Hall tonight.

Southend United entertain Hull for the first time in 15-years and will hope to bring an end to the Humberside club's recent revival, which has seen the Tigers pull away from the Conference trap door at Scarborough's expense.

Hull had been rock bottom for the majority of this campaign, but have been revitalised under the leadership of new player/manager Warren Joyce, who has replaced former Glasgow Rangers star Mark Hateley in the Boothferry Park hotseat.

However, Joyce's success has coincided with a takeover of the club which has seen farmer Tony Belton buy the club from Leigh-on-Sea born tennis entrepreneur David Lloyd.

Under Belton, Joyce has brought in 12 new players who have helped to transform the club's fortunes and guide Hull closer to safety.

The Hull boss's best signings have been steady defender Justin Whittle, who has arrived from Stoke City for £60,000, goalscoring midfield hardman Gary Brabin, a £65,000 buy from Blackpool, and the purchase of young Winsford keeper Andy Oakes.

However, his most significant capture yet could be the return to Hull of former fans favourite Duane Darby.

The 26-year-old was a prolific striker in his previous three-year spell at Hull before joining Second Division Notts County at the end of last season.

However, he has fallen down the pecking order at Meadow Lane after missing the last six months with a knee injury and jumped at the chance of relaunching his career on his old stomping ground.

Darby is set to make his second Hull debut in tonight's match against Blues, but one man who won't feature is right-wing-back Mark Greaves, who is starting a one-match suspension. Inspirational midfielder David D'Auria returns from his one-game ban.

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