ORIENT head into a crucial phase of the season at the weekend, when they begin a six-game spell which will have a massive bearing on their League One future, writes TREVOR DAVIES. The O s are currently precariously placed in 19th position, just two points

ORIENT head into a crucial phase of the season at the weekend, when they begin a six-game spell which will have a massive bearing on their League One future, writes TREVOR DAVIES.

The O's are currently precariously placed in 19th position, just two points above Brighton, who occupy the final relegation place. Yet Geraint Williams' side are also only two points off mid-table.

In a horrendously tight division, only three points divide Carlisle United, who are currently in 12th place and Oldham Athletic, who are down in 20th.

In the next month the O's play four of the teams in that group, as well as Walsall and MK Dons, who are currently just above mid- table.

They are crunch games as Orient cannot afford to drop points against the teams in and around them.

A good return would see them looking upwardly mobile in mid-January, while a poor run would leave them deep in trouble, especially as they play Oldham and Brighton in that time, the two sides immediately below them.

Following last week's win against Gillingham, O's boss Williams said: "It's nice to get past 20 points.

"I would have liked to have done it sooner, but now we have got to get past the 30-point barrier as soon as we can.

"We have got to put a run together and start averaging two points a game over a six-match period and not just do it over two or three games."

Certainly, the O's boss will be keen to reach that 30-point mark during the next six matches and Saturday gives them the ideal opportunity to make it three successive league wins at Brisbane Road when MK Dons are the visitors.

Paul Ince's side are having a torrid time of late and have slipped from third to ninth in the table, as they have picked up just one point from their last five league games - and that was a 2-2 draw at home to Yeovil on Saturday.

Although Williams has virtually a fully-fit squad to chose from, he will be without defender Tamika Mkandawire, who starts a one-game ban after being sent off at Swindon on Saturday, so Luke Ashworth stands by to deputise.

Adam Chambers played for the reserves against Eastbourne Borough yesterday (Tuesday) and will be pushing for a starting place and Scott McGleish will almost certainly return up front.

Williams will be hoping that injuries and suspensions do not prove too costly during the next few games as Sean Thornton, Jimmy Smith and Ben Chorley are just one booking away from a ban.

ORIENT'S Coca-Cola League One game against Charlton Athletic at the Valley will be shown live on Sky Sports.

The match has been moved to Monday, January 25, with a 7.45pm kick-off.