Aidy Boothroyd has urged his in-form Colchester United side to embrace their status as favourites tomorrow.

Boothroyd’s takes his high-flying U’s side to Leyton Orient this weekend, on the back of a six-match unbeaten run.

For the first time in many months, Colchester are enjoying the role of being one of Coca-Cola League One’s leading teams.

Colchester took on two of the division’s fellow promotion-chasers in Huddersfield Town and Charlton Athletic over the past ten days.

However, the U’s will assume the role of being favourites at Brisbane Road, with nine points separating them and Orient in the table.

Colchester manager Boothroyd said: “We want to win every game that we play.

“I said that the games against Huddersfield and Charlton would be measuring sticks for us.

“But I think this is a bigger measuring stick.

“We all know about the teams that do well in cup competitions against the bigger sides and then end up going out to a minnow in the next round.

“This is a 46-game season and the teams that tend to stay there are the ones who beat the opposition who are fighting for their lives.

“They tend to be a more difficult opponent, because your role changes.

“When you are an underdog you are the hunter but when you’re the favourite you become the hunted, so the mentality changes.

“We have to be strong enough mentally to cope with being the one that is being chased.”

For more on the U's, see today's Gazette.