Orient skipper Stephen Dawson has labelled Saturday’s clash at Chesterfield as the O’s “biggest game of the season”.

The Brisbane Road side picked up their second win of the campaign in Tuesday’s Carling Cup tie with Bristol Rovers thanks to a dramatic winner from the captain, deep into injury time, as the O’s sealed a 3-2 victory.

Orient have struggled to make an impression early on in the season and will be looking for their first points of the campaign when the sides clash at the b2net stadium.

Speaking after Tuesday’s match, Dawson said: “Make no mistake about it, it is our biggest game of the season.

“It is a six-pointer already for us because we have got to win the game. We have got to get points on the board and hopefully we will do that on Saturday.”

He continued: “I think every game is big now obviously with the position we are in. We are not going to take any team lightly.

“I know what Chesterfield are about. I know (John) Sheridan well. He tries to get it down and pass.

“They are struggling but they will believe they can get a result as well. But we have got to go there with just that bit of belief and confidence.

“To see out 90 minutes is a big relief and when you haven’t won in five, it feels like you can’t win a game and all of a sudden now hopefully that will give us the lift we need.”

The captain added: “The way we have been playing at the minute, we are fighting for our lives, so hopefully that will kick start our season and we can go now to the main thing and that is getting three points on Saturday.”

League Two champions Chesterfield have also found points hard to come by so far this season, claiming just a solitary draw from their five league games.

The Spireites have lost their last three league fixtures, suffering defeats at Exeter City and MK Dons as well as at home to Preston North End.

Their only point came courtesy of a Jack Lester goal deep into injury time when they entertained fellow newly-promoted outfit Stevenage.

The two sides have only locked horns in the league in two of the last ten seasons but the O’s have enjoyed a good record against Saturday’s hosts.

The pair were last in the same division in the 2006/07 season when Orient claimed four points from their meetings with the Derbyshire side.

A second-half Shane Tudor goal was the difference between the two after they had played out a goalless draw earlier in the season at Brisbane Road.

The season before saw the O’s claim FA Cup success over the Spireites, winning at their old Saltergate home in a replay thanks to goals from John Mackie and Tudor.

Despite the disappointing start to the league campaign, the O’s will travel with confidence after a series of improved performances.

Orient have lost all five of their league fixtures, but the most recent defeats have given some cause for optimism.

A 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Brentford was followed by Russell Slade’s men surrendering a lead to lose 2-1 against Carlisle United, but they looked in control for much of the latter match, while the scoreline at Brentford flattered the hosts.

Dawson’s thoughts on Saturday’s clash were echoed by his manager.

Russell Slade said: “They are at home and they will know that we are struggling as well so it is a big test for both sets of players and both managers.

“We need to go there and we need to get something.

“I am hoping that tonight has given us that impetus to go on now and go and get three points,” the manager added.