Anthony O’Riordan is preparing his Colchester side for what he believes is their biggest game of the season.

Promotion-hunting Colchester are aiming to gain entry to the National League this season and they lead London League division one north by seven points, ahead of Eton Manor.

Manor are the only side to have beaten Colchester this season, a 15-14 home reverse on the opening day.

Today, the Mill Road side travel to third-placed Letchworth Garden City in what head coach O’Riordan thinks could be a season-defining game.

He said: “This could be the pinnacle of our season. Letchworth are unbeaten at home this season and that shows they are a very well organised side on their own turf.

“But we can take confidence from the fact that we beat them quite comfortably (37-11) when they came to us earlier in the season.

“However, our away form is very good as well. I believe this is going to be the biggest game of our season.”

Colchester will be without second row Graeme Hay due to work commitments but have been strengthened by signing Shane Nayalo, who made a try-scoring debut in last Saturday’s 24-7 victory against visiting Luton.

Colchester had been trailing 7-5 at half-time but turned it around in the second period to earn a bonus point win.

O’Riordan said: “The wind was a factor last weekend but that’s taking nothing away from Luton.

“Our defence won us the game on Saturday and that defence will be key for our remaining fixtures.

“We are not interested in the headline score. What we are interested in is the bonus points.

“That’s the aim, to keep picking up the winning bonus points, irrelevant of the score.

“Every game now is a league-winning game and that is how we are looking at it.”