Following their involvement in the Emirates FA Cup last weekend, City's home match with Southend on Saturday afternoon will be their first league fixture in two weeks.
Phil Brown's Southend will arrive at Valley Parade on the same points as Parkinson's men and, like City, just outside the League 1 Play-Off places.
Parkinson was in the crowd at Roots Hall on Tuesday evening to see Southend lose out to Millwall in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Semi-Finals.
Despite the loss for the Shrimpers though, Parkinson is still preparing himself for a tight game.
Parkinson said: "Southend are a good side.
"Phil (Brown) enjoyed good success with them last season getting them up through the Play-Offs, and they have taken to League 1 as well.
"They are a hard-working and well-organised side who have had some good recent results on their travels.
"You just have to look at the table to see how closely matched a lot of teams are and how competitive Saturday's game should be.
"I have worked with Phil before at Hull City and Steve (Parkin) has worked with him and Brian Horton during a different spell at Hull as well.
"We know them well and we know they will be dangerous opponents.
"Phil will be bitterly disappointed to have gone out in midweek in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, especially being so close to a trip to Wembley, but they have been picking up some good results in the league recently."