COLCHESTER Rugby Club skipper Liam Pickett has stressed they will go all out to secure home advantage in the play-offs when they finish their league campaign this weekend.

The Blacks secured runners-up spot in London One North with victory over Fullerians and complete their programme with a trip to play rock bottom Diss, on Saturday.

Promotion-chasing Colchester have already booked a play-off against opponents from London One South, where Camberley, Sevenoaks, Brighton and Medway are still all in contention for first and second place.

And first-team captain Pickett says ensuring that they are at their Mill Road ground for the play-off is essential.

Pickett said: “We still have the weekend where we need to get maximum points to secure home advantage in the play-off, which is what we’ve been aiming for.

“We might have secured second spot but not one of us is thinking that the season is done.

“We’re looking to get five points from the Diss game, because home advantage is important.

“Any play-off game is a big one and there’s a lot of anticipation and pressure, so you want to do everything you can to relieve that pressure and playing in front of your own crowd can do that.”

Colchester, who have lost only twice this season, on both occasions to champions Rochford Hundred, beat Fullerians 10-5 last weekend to secure their play-off place with a game to spare.

However, skipper Pickett admits they were not at their best against a side who were battling the drop.

“It was a bit of a reality check for us,” said Pickett, who is hoping to be involved at some stage this weekend following a thumb injury.

“Fullerians had a lot to gain from the game and they had the chance to keep their season alive.

“They knew that had they won, they could have stayed up and they came out all guns blazing, doing all they could to get some points so we knew that they wouldn’t be a walkover.

“They were mid-table last year but this year they’ve really struggled.

“They were really up for the game and we weren’t at our best but we got the win we wanted and we defended well.

“Conditions weren’t great and although it was a wake-up call, we got the two crucial tries we needed to win.”