COLCHESTER United skipper Luke Prosser believes beating Mansfield Town this weekend will give their promotion push a huge boost.

The U’s head into tomorrow's clash at the JobServe Community Stadium lying fifth in League Two, two points and two places below the Stags in the table.

Colchester know that a win could lift them back into the automatic promotion places and defender Prosser knows the importance of the fixture.

Prosser said: “It’s a massive game and hopefully, we can get the three points.

“They’re in and around the same place as us and you want to beat the teams in and around you.

“We know how important it is to beat the teams below you but we have to beat the teams in and around us, at the same time.

“I think they’ve got a game or two in hand and it’s a big game where we want to get three points.

“They’ve added two good players during the week but we’re in a really good place.

“This is the business end of the season now.

“We want to stay in and amongst it and taking points off our promotion rivals is the aim.

“We had a good result at the weekend and everyone’s really looking forward to the game and raring to go.

“They haven’t lost too many games this season and it’s going to be a tough game.

“They have the highest or second highest budget (in League Two) so we know what their threats are.

“Our home form has been good this season and we need to keep that going, if we want to be in and amongst it.

“These are the sort of games we need to win.

“We’ve had some big games already at home this season like Lincoln where we’ve come away with the three points.

“There should be a good crowd and hopefully, it’ll be a good game of football between two good football teams.”

Prosser is no stranger to winning promotion from League Two, having achieved the feat with both Southend United and Northampton Town, earlier in his career.

“I give a bit of advice,” said the experienced centre-back.

“The Southend play-off final was on the telly the other day when I was doing the talk, so that helped a little bit!

“There are a few boys who have had promotions and it’s just a case of staying together and doing what we’re good at.

“Hopefully that will see us over the line, come May.”