COLCHESTER and East Essex skipper Andrew Kennedy believes the next four weeks will play a big part in determining where they finish this season.

The Castle Park side head to Loughton tomorrow, hoping to maintain their fine form in the Shepherd Neame Essex League top flight.

Colchester, who are fourth, have lost just two of their opening seven league games, following their promotion as division one champions last season.

After this weekend’s trip to mid-table Loughton they take on the current top-three sides.

Kennedy said: “We play Loughton this weekend but after that we have games against Wanstead & Snaresbrook, Brentwood and Chelmsford, all sides in the top three.

“I think the next four weeks will define where we end up in the league.

“If we can have a good next month or so, I think we’ll have every chance of doing very well.

“Loughton are a bit of an unknown quantity and they haven’t had too many wins but we can’t underestimate them.

“The team that they had over the last few years has changed and they’re a young team now.”

Kennedy said Colchester’s players have been taking part in extra fielding practice this week, with several chances going begging over recent weeks.

He feels mistakes in the field cost them a number of runs in their win over Chingford, last weekend.

“Our fielding is a bit of a concern at the moment,” said Kennedy.

“We probably gave Chingford around 20 runs because of it, last weekend.

“We shouldn’t be fielding as we are and it’s something we’ll be practising this week.

“It’s difficult as not all of the squad are local to Colchester but we’ll try and get as many of them together.”

Colchester were one of only two teams to claim premier division wins last weekend, with many games in the league rain affected.

Kennedy added: “It made a difference that we were able to complete our game, get the win and put a few more points on the board.”

Colchester expect Joe Barnett to keep wicket against Loughton in place of Ollie Lovejoy, in what is expected to be the only change to their starting line-up. Cameron Rule, Henry Foster and Julian Russell are all still unavailable.