Colchester play their first home match for nearly a month when they entertain North Walsham at Raven Park on Saturday, as the Blacks continue their push for promotion.

With five games to go, it looks like a straight battle between league leaders Colchester and second-placed Letchworth Garden City for the one and only automatic promotion place.

Colchester are six points clear at the top of Regional 1 South East, with next month’s summit meeting between the two sides at Letchworth clearly a key fixture.

That’s not quite the whole story, though, as the sides finishing the season second and third (currently Tring) will go into a play-off involving two other sides from other leagues for a chance to clinch level four rugby.

Unsurprisingly, everyone involved with Colchester is keeping feet firmly on the ground and taking nothing for granted as the season approaches its denouement.

“The guys know what’s in front of us,” said head coach Mike Haywood. “But week-on-week we take it one game at a time. There’s no point in looking ahead of that because then it creates pressure you don’t actually need.”

Accordingly, all attention during the fortnight since the last match – a narrow 28-26 win at Tring - has been on preparing for Saturday’s home visit of North Walsham (kick-off 3pm).

The Norfolk side have historically proved tough opponents for Colchester but lost 42-12 when the sides met at Walsham’s Scottow fortress back in November.

They currently lie fifth in the league table having won their last three matches but have won only once on the road this season.

On another busy day for the club, the Ravens are in league action as they travel to Counties 1 Eastern Counties league leaders Bury St Edmunds 2s (kick-off 2.30).

The Ravens will be looking to end a frustrating run of results and will want to reverse the 43-24 defeat to Bury earlier in the season.

The As will be aiming to keep in touch with the top two teams in Eastern Counties Greene King Division 1 South as they entertain Woodbridge 2s at Raven Park (kick-off 2.30) while the Cavaliers have another weekend off.

Raven Park stages friendly matches involving the Roman Ruins (Friday night at 7.30) and the Kings, who play Kings Cross Steelers on Sunday (2pm).