Tom Eastman may have started his footballing career by cleaning Jon Stead's boots but the Colchester United defender is confident he has the experience to handle his former mentor when they clash tomorrow.

The 25-year-old centre-half said he used to keep Stead's boots looking pristine during his days as a youth team player when the pair were Ipswich Town team-mates.

And the defender is due to come up against the 33-year-old striker when the U's travel to Notts County for a crucial League Two clash at Meadow Lane tomorrow.

But far from being overawed by facing a man who he used to do jobs for, Eastman feels, with more than 200 U's appearances under his own belt, he can be confident in dealing with Stead and another experienced County striker - Shola Ameobi - tomorrow.

Eastman said: "I was obviously a young boy then when I was at Ipswich with Jon, but I used to clean his boots when I was in the youth team there.

"Hopefully I can keep him quiet now and stop him coming up with any goals.

"Shola (Ameobi) can be a bit of a handful as well as he's also played at the top level.

"But you have to push yourself against those types of players.

"I've played quite a few games now, though, and have the experience myself.

"I've played against plenty of good players and I'm not scared as I'm just going out there and doing my job."

Eastman has come back into the U's side after recovering from an ankle injury and has been able to make an unexpected return as it had been feared that his season may be over.

He returned for the 2-1 home win against Luton Town last weekend and is delighted to be back, especially as the team find themselves in a promotion battle rather than a relegation dogfight as has been the case in recent seasons.

"I don't see why we can't get in the top seven," added the U's defender.

"We have players coming back and that gives us a boost so hopefully we can get the results we need.

"There are only seven games to go so there's no excuse not to give it everything for those games.

"It's a bit different to be in a side going for promotion.

"The first season that I came here we were pushing for the play-offs in League One.

"It didn't quite happen for us but otherwise it's been a bit of a dogfight and not as enjoyable as going for promotion.

"That's what we should be doing every year."

Eastman said he also enjoyed coming back into a formation - with three centre backs and wing backs out wide - that was allowing the team to defend well this season.

He said: "It has been a bit different this year.

"I think the formation may have helped a bit with three at the back and we've looked more resilient after going to that.

"The players in that formation are comfortable with it and I think it's a big help.

"The wing-backs can help out a lot and (Brennan) Dickenson and (Richard) Brindley have good engines to get forward and back.

"That's a massive help."