TINY Dennis Wise insists the Leeds United job is not too big for him.

Wise's four and a half months in charge turn full circle tomorrow when he takes United to relegation rivals Southend, the team Leeds defeated at Elland Road in his first game in charge.

When Wise took over, after leaving Swindon, Leeds were fourth from bottom. Now they prop up the rest and his record shows 14 defeats, four draws and just seven wins.

Many believe defeat at Southend will mean almost certain relegation to Coca-Cola League One for a team that was competing in the Champions League six years ago.

Yet the former Chelsea and England pocket battleship intends to keep fighting. When asked whether the job was too big for him and his assistant Gus Poyet, Wise bristled: "That is not a very nice question to ask, is it? We enjoy this job. It has never been too big for us. It is a learning curve.

"I have never known the things that have gone on at this football club happen anywhere else where I have been.

"We knew what kind of job we were walking into and we are here to deal with it. We didn't come to do the job for a few months. We came with a long term target to try and get the club back into the Premiership.

"It is difficult to take over once the season is underway because a lot of the preparation has been done, but that is not an excuse.

"Whatever happens will be put down to me and Gus and we take that on board. There will be some disappointments along the way but we have to stay strong."

Wise added: "There are a lot of good managers I have worked under. I've had a chat with some of them and taken advice, but you have to live and die by your own decisions and I will do that.

"Of course, the game at Southend is important but afterwards there are 21 points to play for, so there will be a lot of ups and downs over the coming weeks."

Skipper Jonathan Douglas was in the side that defeated Southend at Elland Road in October and he believes United can land their first double of the season.

"We know we are capable of beating Southend and that is what we are going to do," he said confidently.

"I don't look at the table. If we can put a winning run together, which we haven't done all season, we will get out of trouble. This is a game we need to win and I'm sure we will."

Left-back Robbie Elliott may make his first start since January 20.