COLCHESTER head coach Anthony O’Riordan is looking to get 2016 off to a winning start.

The Mill Road side will be hoping to turn around a six-match losing streak when they entertain Chichester in National League division three London and South East on Saturday.

Colchester last took to the field on December 19 when they lost 38-10 away at second-placed London Irish Wild Geese.

But they have a good chance to end their barren spell against Chichester, who are one place above Colchester in the table in tenth spot.

Both sides have won four games and lost ten, with try-scoring bonus points separating the two teams.

In their last encounter Chichester took a narrow 15-13 victory over a Colchester side that had been plagued by ill-discipline.

O’Riordan said: “On paper it looks like a game that we can win.

“Also, playing at home, I would back us for the win.

“Saying that, the last time we played them we picked up three yellow cards that overlapped so we were down three players and they took advantage.

“I am hoping that that doesn’t happen again. I think we are the better rugby-playing side with the better ability.

“But I think in all our last defeats, with the exception of London Irish Wild Geese, we were the better rugby playing side.

“However, we need to improve the clinical aspect of our play.”

Colchester will be slightly weakened as O’Riordan will be without the services of the Pickett brothers, Harrison, Liam and Ollie, as well as Liam Cutbush.

He said: “Obviously, we would like to have those four players available but the players coming in wouldn’t be in the first team if they weren’t good enough.

“So I think we are in a good position for the weekend.”

Having not played for a few weeks O’Riordan does not think that his players will be rusty but that they will be ready for the challenge.

He said: “I think the break has done us good. Especially if you look at our losing run going in to Christmas, I think it was a good thing.

“I think it has given both the players and the coaching staff a chance to hit the reset button.

“I think it has given us a chance to get to grips with what we have to do and focus on things in our game.

“We have had a chat with some of the senior players to explain what areas we want to focus on going forward.

“Next month is cruical to us going forward.”