Nearly 900 Colchester United supporters have already snapped up tickets for their pivotal game at already-relegated Leyton Orient, this weekend.

It is a game that the U’s must realistically win, if they are to keep their League Two play-off hopes alive.

John McGreal’s side lie three points off the top-seven places, with two games remaining.

With the top three wrapped up and fourth-placed Luton Town now looking assured of their place in the play-offs, there are realistically a further nine clubs battling for the three remaining available spots as the season reaches an exciting conclusion.

The maximum number of points Colchester can now achieve is 69 and they will be confident of achieving that, given their remaining fixtures.

On Saturday, they travel to Brisbane Road to face an Orient side still reeling from their relegation to the National League.

And the following week, the U’s host Yeovil Town who are now virtually safe.

But along with winning both of their games, Colchester also have to hope that many of the teams around them drop points.

Some of their rivals are guaranteed points as they are playing each other.

On the final weekend, Exeter City host Carlisle United, Stevenage entertain Accrington Stanley and Cambridge United are at Wycombe Wanderers.

It is looking a tall order for Colchester to make the play-offs but as McGreal said last week, there promises to be further twists and turns before the season is out.

THE CONTENDERS

EXETER CITY

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 68

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +18

REMAINING GAMES: DONCASTER ROVERS (A), CARLISLE UNITED (H)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 74

BLACKPOOL

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 67

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +22

REMAINING GAMES: NOTTS COUNTY (A), LEYTON ORIENT (H)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 73 (67, +22, 73)

STEVENAGE

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 66

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +7

REMAINING GAMES: YEOVIL TOWN (A), ACCRINGTON STANLEY (H)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 72

MANSFIELD TOWN

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 65

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +5

REMAINING GAMES: PORTSMOUTH (H), CRAWLEY TOWN (A)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 71

WYCOMBE WANDERERS

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 65

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +4

REMAINING GAMES: MORECAMBE (A), CAMBRIDGE UNITED (H)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 71 (65, +4, 71)

CARLISLE UNITED

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 64

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: -1

REMAINING GAMES: NEWPORT (H), EXETER CITY (A)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 70

CAMBRIDGE UNITED

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 63

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +7

REMAINING GAMES: CRAWLEY TOWN (H), WYCOMBE (A)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVABLE: 69

COLCHESTER UNITED

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 63

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +6

REMAINING GAMES: LEYTON ORIENT (A), YEOVIL TOWN (H)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 69

ACCRINGTON STANLEY

CURRENT POINTS TOTAL: 62

CURRENT GOAL DIFFERENCE: +3

REMAINING GAMES: LUTON TOWN (H), STEVENAGE (A)

MAXIMUM POINTS ACHIEVEABLE: 68