Stevenage head coach Alex Revell has called on his players to feed off the growing confidence in the camp as they travel to Leyton Orient in League One on Saturday, looking to push into what he described as "that top pack" before the international break.

A slow start, then a sharp turnaround

It has been a season of two distinct spells for Stevenage so far. Boro collected just a single point from their opening three league fixtures, with home defeats to Oxford United and Reading setting a difficult early tone. What followed, however, has been a marked improvement: back-to-back draws laid the foundation before a 5-1 demolition at Barnsley and a 2-1 home win over Luton Town last Thursday lifted the mood considerably.

That four-game unbeaten sequence has moved Stevenage up to ninth in the third-tier table after six matches, and Revell is keen to ensure the squad does not squander the momentum they have worked hard to build.

"There's no better feeling than when everybody gets to celebrate like that after a game," Revell told BBC Three Counties Radio. "We know how much it means to everybody, and how hard everybody works here, staff, players, everyone."

Keeping it simple at the core

Revell was candid about the philosophy he believes suits his squad. Rather than overloading players with information, the Boro boss says the focus is on letting individuals express what they do well, with a gradual layering of additional detail.

"This is not a group of players where you overload them," he said. "You just need to keep it simple. Get them to do what they are good at, and that's what we feel we're progressing with. If we do that, and add a little bit more of pace and more of those one-on-one moments, we're in a real good place. We're really pleased with where we are."

Memory of last season's trip to Orient

Revell also drew on what happened when Stevenage visited Leyton Orient at a similar stage of last season, a victory that temporarily sent his side to the top of the division. Boro went on to win eight of their first ten matches in that campaign before ultimately reaching the play-offs, where they lost in the semi-finals to Stockport County. Leyton Orient, meanwhile, survived relegation on the final day of the same season.

"I remember we beat them this time last year, and got a fantastic result that sent us top for the first time over that period," Revell said. "Leyton Orient are having a tricky old time, sat there in the middle of the pack. Richie's (Wellens) teams are always well coached and have the ability to score goals."

That acknowledgement of the hosts' threat suggests Revell is not approaching Brisbane Road with any sense of complacency, even if the form lines currently favour his side.

Eyes on the top six

With the international break approaching, Revell has set a clear target for the weekend. A win at Orient would allow Stevenage to go into the break sitting among the early pacesetters, and the head coach is treating Saturday as an opportunity to cement the belief that has been growing across the squad.

"We want to win this game to go into the international break in that top pack," he said. "We want to continue this momentum, building belief in what we're doing."

Leyton Orient, managed by Richie Wellens, will be looking for their own positive result to lift themselves up the third-tier standings, meaning both clubs arrive at Brisbane Road with plenty to play for. For Stevenage, the question is whether their recent surge represents a genuine shift in quality or a run that a stubborn Orient side can bring to an end.

Frequently asked

When do Stevenage play Leyton Orient?
Stevenage travel to Leyton Orient on Saturday in a League One fixture, with the match taking place ahead of the international break.
How have Stevenage been performing in League One this season?
After taking just one point from their opening three league games, Stevenage went on a four-match unbeaten run that included a 5-1 win at Barnsley and a 2-1 home victory over Luton Town, lifting them to ninth in the table.
Who is the Stevenage manager?
Alex Revell is the head coach at Stevenage. He led the club to the League One play-offs last season, where they were eliminated in the semi-finals by Stockport County.