ORIENT skipper Stephen Purches needs a fright mask to play right now, but luckily his replacement has had no shocks for his team-mates.

Andrew Cave-Brown has impressed at right-back ever since Purches was stretchered off with a fractured cheek-bone at Stockport, last month.

But now he faces a fight for his place.

Purches was an un-used substitute for the Colchester game last week.

And he will not want to wait in the shadows, even with a Phantmon of the Opera mask.

So can twenty one year-old Cave-Brown the understudy keep Purches on the bench and become first choice himself?

Cave-Brown told the Guardian: “I don’t know, hopefully. I want to play every game. But it’s the manager’s decision and I’ll have to stand by that, whatever happens.

“I’m pleased I’m playing because I need games to progress as a player. I’ll play as many games as I can and go from there.

Orient boss Geraint Williams hinted that Purches faces real competition now, a rare thing in Orient’s back-line.

He said: “Purch has a fight on to get back in the team. Cavey is a smahing lad with lots of things going for him. As long as he keeps performing, he’ll look to keep his place in the team.

“Purch is back with his mask and he put himself forward for the Colchester game, but we have to be careful for him.”

Purches told the Guardian that his come-back from the fracture is ahead of schedule.

“I trained for the last part of last week. The gaffer asked me to go on the bench which I was pleased about. It’s a bonus to be as early as this, so I’ll just keep training and see how it goes.

“I’m further ahead than I thought.”

The O’s have conceded just one goal a game while Cave-Brown has started, except against Norwich, who capitalised on an Orient red card for JJ Melligan to hit four.

But centre-back Tamika Mkandawire finding his form again after a shaky start is important too So just who to put at right-back when Brentford arrive this Saturday could be a headache for Williams.

He will want to beat the newly promoted B’s, especially after last weekend’s 1-0 home defeat to his ex-club Colchester.

”Credit to them” said Williams. “They’re a big strong side and very well organised. One good delivery and two good headers cost us the game.”

“We’ll regroup and work hard on the training ground and we’ll look to pick a side which’ll go out and beat Brentford next week.”

Midfielders Jason Demetriou and JJ Melligan will be available after bans. Sean Thornton and Adam Chambers are expected to be absent injured.