John McGreal believes Colchester United’s trip to play joint League Two leaders Notts County tomorrow will be his side’s biggest test of the season so far.

But the U’s head coach insists his in-form team should embrace the challenge of taking on the promotion-chasing Magpies, at Meadow Lane.

Colchester are in fine form, having embarked on a six-match unbeaten league run and lost only one of their last ten games, in the fourth tier.

They have also gone more than five and a half hours without conceding a goal but take on a Notts County side who have not suffered a home defeat this season and are in good form themselves.

McGreal said: “It’s going to be our biggest test of the season by far.

“It’s going to be a huge task for us but we’re in a great run of form ourselves and it’s great to try and pit your wits against a top team.

“I’ve got to know Kev (Nolan) quite well and he’s doing a terrific job, from where they were when he picked them up last season.

“He’s changed the dynamic of how they do things.

“He got them running last season and now he’s continued that.

“They’ve got quality players and you only have to look at the front two straight away, in (Shola) Ameobi and (Jon) Stead.

“But they have got other quality players, too.

“We found it tough when we went there last season but now it’s a little bit different and we’re in a little bit of form.

“But they’re in great form as well and sitting joint top – they’ve had a great start and it should be a good game and one we’re really looking forward to.”

Colchester have lost on their last seven visits to Meadow Lane and have not won at Notts County since 2002, conceding 19 goals and scoring just four in that time.

But boss McGreal insists that will have absolutely no bearing on tomorrow's encounter.

“The club’s previous history there is absolutely irrelevant to me," said McGreal, whose side were beaten 3-1 at Notts County, last season.

“We’ve only played there once and lost once and I wouldn’t know what’s gone on before that.

"We're a different team going there, to the one that played there last season."

Doug Loft will definitely miss tomorrow's game with a shoulder injury and McGreal says they will check on other players, ahead of their clash with the Magpies.

He added: “We’ve got one or two carrying little knocks and bumps and bruises."

Probable U's starting line-up: Walker, Eastman, Inniss, Kent, Jackson, Lapslie, Comley, Vincent-Young, Szmodics, Wright, Mandron.