John McGreal says his Colchester United are braced for a ‘shoot-out’ with their rivals to nail down a League Two play-off spot.

The U’s go into the weekend’s fixtures sitting four points off the play-off places, with four games remaining.

McGreal believes his side’s recent good form will give them a big boost, heading into their crucial home clash with fifth-placed Notts County.

Colchester have claimed ten points from a possible 15, in their last five matches - and the U’s head coach insists that form has given his team a great opportunity to clinch a top-seven finish.

McGreal said: “We’ve got a hell of a chance and with four games to go, I think it’s going to be a bit of a shoot-out with other teams.

“Let’s give it a go, as we have done.

“We’ve had three wins and a defeat in the last four games and that’s a fantastic run for us at this stage of the season, where a lot of other teams are scrapping around to try and get wins because they know three points is huge at this time of the season.

“It’s been vital for us and a shot in the arm, going into the Notts County game.

“We play all of the teams in and around us and we have possibly the hardest run-in but if you look at it in from a positive view, we have to beat teams who are above us.

“We know that we can beat good opposition in this league and we feel as though we can get a win, against a top team in this division.

“We’ve gained a lot over the last few weeks and it’s been fantastic for the boys to put themselves in and around it.

“It was all doom and gloom and people were saying we were miles off it.

“But the boys have proved one or two things that they can win games of football and that’s we’ve asked of them.

“Three points are huge in this division – that’s what I’ve found as is getting something out of the game.

“Things can change in a heartbeat in this league and it’s a tight division.”