ORIENT defender Jordan Spence is adamant the team have 'far too much to go down', but insists it is up to the players to prove that they belong in League One.

The O's have enjoyed something of a resurrection under new boss Geraint Williams, which has taken them to the cusp of safety, but the clutches of relegation still loom large as the team approach the final straight.

However, Spence, a product of West Ham's notorious youth system and on loan at Brisbane Road until the end of the season, is surprised that the club are struggling in the lower reaches of the division and remains confident that they can dig themselves out of trouble.

"I said from the outset when I arrived, we're in a position we shouldn't be in, but we're in it because of the way the season has gone," said the England Under-19 international captain.

"We've got far too much to go down, but on the other hand we have to show that.

"We've been doing that in the last couple of weeks, but it's up to us to prove we're too good to go down and hopefully we'll continue to do so."

It is a big endorsement from a big player, who has impressed since arriving for his second spell at the club, with his considerable 6ft 7in frame and giant strides keeping many of the league's forwards in check.

Spence has been deployed in his favoured position at centre-half for the most part by Williams, and he has played a key role in the team's impressive recent defensive record, which recently saw the O's concede just four times in six games.

The youngster has also demonstrated his versatility across the back line after being pushed out to the right in the past week to fill the void left by captain Stephen Purches, who has been suffering with a thigh injury; a duty he has been only too happy to carry out.

He added: "I favour playing at centre-half but the gaffer has asked me to fill in at full-back with Purch's (captain Stephen Purches) injury and I have no problems doing that.

Obviously I feel more comfortable playing in the middle but I feel I'm doing a decent job at full-back."

Spence has slotted straight in to Williams' first XI and, while he will harbour dreams of a future in the top tier of English football, he remains focused on the task in hand: hauling Orient out of the drop zone.

"It's been great to come into such a good bunch of lads that have helped me bed in," said the 19-year-old. "I'm here now with the goal to keep Orient in League One.

We've got a good opportunity to do that and hopefully we'll stay in this league and it will be a positive experience for me personally, and for the club."