ORIENT defender Tamika Mkandawire is gearing up for a crucial Christmas period.

The O's travel to Brighton & Hove Albion on Boxing Day before hosting local rivals Southend United 48 hours later, and Mkandawire is on the lookout for a maximum six-point haul.

Former Hereford man Mkandawire scored on his return to the O's side from suspension in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Walsall and he is well aware of the importance of Saturday's six-pointer at Brighton.

"It's a massively important time for us," he said. "We're going to Brighton on Saturday, a team who are below us in the table, and we know that's a huge game for both of us.

"We'll have to work hard to get a result there because it will be a tough game, but hopefully we can do that and set us up well for the derby match against Southend."

Orient have let winning positions slip in both of their last two matches, seeing five points go to waste against MK Dons and Walsall.

Mkandawire was frustrated that Orient could not build on excellent starts in those encounters but is sure they can find the winning formula soon.

He continued: "We were playing well against both MK Dons and Walsall and had leads in both, so to lose one game and draw the other was made even more disappointing by the fact the damage was done in such a short space of time.

"It's hard to put a finger on how we can be comfortable and solid for such a long time, but then suffer these lapses, and in a way that makes it more difficult to put right.

"But we are working hard to turn that around and hopefully our luck will turn in the second half of the season. There have been a few matches this year when the opposition have maybe had two shots and scored two goals. In contrast, we've not had many where we've been fortunate to take a win or a point, but I'm sure over the course of the season a few will suffer that from us too."