Paul Sturrock hopes Plymouth Argyle win every game for the remainder of the season – but only after this afternoon's clash with his high-flying Southend United.

Sturrock said he was anticipating a "spicy affair" at Home Park (3pm) as he makes only his second competitive return to his old stomping ground with Southend in an eagerly anticipated League Two fixture.

The Scot admitted he was unsure of what sort of reception he would receive from the Green Army, both as visiting manager but pertinently after his disappointing second spell in charge of the Pilgrims.

Sturrock said he watched out for Argyle's results with "very keen interest" and that he had a soft spot for the club where his managerial career had been most successful.

The 55-year-old also felt Argyle under manager Carl Fletcher and new owner James Brent "were in good hands and being well run".

But while he had sympathy for the fans over Argyle's present position of second-bottom in English football's last-chance saloon, Sturrock said his brief was to do his best to get three points for Southend.

United's league form has slipped a little of late, culminating in back-to-back defeats to Shrewsbury (2-1) on January 21 and to Swindon Town on Tuesday in a heavy 4-1 defeat at Roots Hall.

Sturrock said: "My job is to get as many wins as I can for Southend and keep us in the promotion hunt. After Saturday, I'd love Argyle to go on a sensational winning run right up until the end of the season.

"That would give me a great deal of satisfaction, but only when we've got the right result at Home Park.

"As I see it, there are five sides looking to be in the top three [automatic] promotion places and Southend have a great opportunity.

"Argyle's need for points is different, but I know they are a much better team than their league position shows. They've tightened up a lot under the boy Fletcher, who I signed by the way, so I know he's got a lot of experience from his playing career even if he's still learning the ropes as a manager.

"I can see from Argyle's recent results, particularly at home, that any team coming to Home Park will have to work hard for anything."

Sturrock had two spells in charge of Plymouth from 2000-2004 until he joined then Premier League Southampton and in late 2007 when he replaced Leicester City-bound Ian Holloway and spent the next two years in charge of the Pilgrims.

He returned to Home Park in October 2005 as manager of Sheffield Wednesday for a Championship match, but he admits today's fixture has more edge to it.

"It has all the ingredients to be a spicy one, that's for sure. I'm hopeful the fans will give me a good reception.

"I'm still proud of what we did here at Plymouth and my record of not being the manager of a relegated side.

"I still believe that if I'd been in charge of Argyle, they wouldn't have been relegated [from the Championship at end of 2009/10 season]."

A pitch inspection was due to take place at Home Park at 8am this morning ahead today's match.

The Pilgrims used gas-fired hot air blowers to help avoid the pitch freezing.