Orient boss Russell Slade

Orient boss Russell Slade has hinted that he will continue to rotate his strikers during their run-in to the end of the season.

Slade has opted for a different forward pairing in each of the Os’ last three games, with Shaun Batt, Kevin Lisbie and Charlie MacDonald all making two starts.

David Mooney, who came on as a substitute in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Carlisle, is also back in the equation, but Slade admits at least three of the quartet are still struggling to last a full 90 minutes after recent injuries.

“We were a little bit patched up [against Carlisle],” said the Orient manager. “I couldn’t keep the front two on longer than I did, but it still worked.

“Charlie came on and got us a penalty almost immediately and Moons has got a valuable 25 minutes, so with the games we’ve got left this season it’s important that they got some pitch time.

“We’ve got some semi-fit strikers, really, and I haven’t got a big squad – I could still only get six on the bench, so that gives you an idea of how big the squad is.

“But we’re looking that little bit more ruthless at the moment and that’s encouraging. We need to keep that focus and attitude going – there’s still seven games to go.

“We’ll keep working hard every game and my aim is to win as many games as we possibly can between now and the end of the season.”

Dean Cox, who scored Orient’s fourth goal against Carlisle, is expected to be fit for their trip to Preston on Saturday despite sustaining a shoulder injury.

However, defender Mathieu Baudry is likely to remain sidelined by a hip problem until after the Easter weekend, when the Os take on Scunthorpe and Bury.