COLCHESTER United head coach John McGreal is urging his players to stay focused on the job in hand - and not get caught up in the sideshow of an emotion-charged day at Leyton Orient.

The O's have already been relegated and will be playing their final home game tomorrow - the last, for now, of a 112-year stay in the Football League.

Orient fans are planning to stage a protest before the game, with supporters demonstrating their opposition to owner Francesco Beccetti.

Many of them, dressed as clowns, invaded the pitch following the home win against fellow strugglers Hartlepool United on Easter Monday.

It remains to be seen if there will be any repeats tomorrow but a volatile atmosphere could be on the cards.

McGreal has sympathy for the club's plight, but wants his players to stay focused on their mission of keeping in touch with the play-offs.

“Our players have seen what’s going on there in the media," he said.

“There are ifs, buts and maybes in terms of what might happen tomorrow, but we’ve just got to remain focused.

“We’ve just got to worry about ourselves.

“We’ve got a lot to play for and they’ve got a lot of pride to play for, in front of their home fans.

“I can see it being a testing game but we’ve got to try and win, to stay in and around the play-off race and stay in touch with the top seven.

“I’ve never been in their position (not being paid) and I’m not really in a comment to talk about what’s going on there.

“I see and read bits in the media, though.

“People have bills and mortgages to pay and it’s important that the situation with wages is sorted out soon, not just for the players but the staff too.

"From a players' perspective, though, as professionals we expect them to do the right thing.

“We’ve watched some of their recent games and they’ve been doing the right thing for their football club."

McGreal is resisting the temptation to refer to tomorrow's game as a cup final, given the significance of three points up for grabs.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on the boys because they know what it’s all about," he said.

“We're all professionals. There’s enough experience in the team and there are some old heads on young shoulders as well.

“So they know what it’s all about.

“We won’t be changing too much now because we’ve had success with what we've done throughout the season.

“Some of our recent performances have been excellent, especially against Plymouth.

“I thought we were really great in that game and well worthy of our point.

“Now we’ve got to take that same energy, work-rate and togetherness into tomorrow’s game.

“We need to show the same determination and have the same outlook.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on the boys and we haven’t described tomorrow’s game as a cup final.

“It’s a league fixture and there are three points riding on it, so we’re going to try and win a game of football as we do week in, week out."

Colchester will be roared on by a crowd of around 1,000 fans at the Matchroom Stadium.

McGreal says he and the players are indebted for that support - and says he is aware of a "huge buzz" around the club.

“At this week's Fans’ Forum, it was pleasing that they were talking about work rate and what we have going on," he said.

“It was great feedback.

“It was really positive and I think they are seeing it and feeling it.

“We have a good philosophy as a club and I think you’re really seeing this year the fruits of people’s labours with young lads coming through.

“More so of late than ever.

“(Owner) Robbie (Cowling) is not a knee-jerk person and he has a lot of trust in what he has around him.

“He brings a lot of support, especially when things weren’t going so well.

“He’s been a pillar of strength for myself and Steve (Ball).

“It’s a great club.

“I have good mates within football and we really are the envy of other clubs.

“With what we are doing, the chairman we have and the facilities we have, we are an envy of other clubs and I think that’s something to be proud of."