THE Magpies will soar to the top of League One if they get it right at Meadow Lane, says Dean Leacock.
The defender believes Notts are the best team in the division away from home – and the stats back it up because they are unbeaten in eight league games on the road, winning five of those.
But they have struggled on home soil so far this season and have lost three of their last four league games at Meadow Lane, against leaders Tranmere Rovers, Stevenage and Doncaster Rovers, ahead of facing fourth-placed Crawley Town at home today.
Leacock says the Magpies have tried all sorts of things to spark their home form into life, but have not resorted to staying in a hotel the night before and arriving at Meadow Lane on a team bus like it is an away game.
"We've definitely got to sort out our home situation," he said.
"It's frustrating for the fans and it's frustrating for us not to be able to win at home, but clubs come here and play so differently to how they would if they were at home.
"They just sit off us and it's harder for us to break them down, whereas if we go away clubs have to come at us, which gives us more gaps at play in.
"We've got to be patient at home and the fans have got to be patient with us."
It has not all been doom and gloom at Meadow Lane this season though because the Magpies have beaten Hartlepool United, Shrewsbury Town and Portsmouth, thrashing them 3-0, on home soil.
And Leacock insists they only have to overcome the tactical problems of breaking down defensive-minded teams rather than a mental barrier.
"Clubs come here and sit 11 men behind the ball, let us have it at the back and keep it very narrow in midfield and it's hard for us to play, but it's about patience," he added.
"I think when the fans get a little bit restless it affects a few of the players and we need everybody behind us.
"We just need to relax at home and it will come."
The Magpies are still in fifth place in the division because of their great away form.
They are just one point and one place below newly-promoted Crawley and Leacock believes a win today would be hugely significant.
"I think it would make a massive difference," he said.
"Away from home we're probably the best in the league so if we can get it right at home there is every possibility we could be top of the league."
Leacock is set to be joined at the heart of the Magpies' back-four against Crawley by Damion Stewart, who signed a deal with the club until January last week.
The Jamaica international defender is amazingly his fourth different partner in central defence in 16 league games this season because of injuries.
He played just 13 minutes with Tom Williams in the first league game before he suffered a calf injury, then 11 games with Gary Liddle, three with on-loan Ashley Eastham and has now played one with Stewart.
So much change at the back could have caused all sorts of problems, but Leacock has held the defence together brilliantly and they have kept six clean-sheets in all competitions this season.
"The players that have come in have done really well," said Leacock.
"It's not like they've come in and had poor games.
"Lids has been really good this year, Damo has come in and we've kept two clean-sheets, which says a lot, and Ash did really well in the games he played."
Two of those clean-sheets were in their last two games against Portsmouth in the first round of the FA Cup and Colchester United in the league as they won both of those games 2-0.
"It's always pleasing to get a clean-sheet. We've got two on the bounce now, which is a nice feeling," said Leacock.
"Damo has added a bit more strength and we've looked strong.
"He's an experienced defender. He played a lot of games in the Championship. He's strong, he talks well and he can only improve the back-four and the team.
"I think we complement each other quite well.
"He's the aggressive type, likes to win headers, go for tackles.
"I'm not saying I'm not like that too, but I'm more of a sweeper. I pick up the second balls.
"At the moment things are going well.
"It's difficult sometimes because we've not had a settled back-four for the past couple of months or so.
"But we've got players that can play in all kinds of positions so hopefully we will keep a third clean-sheet today."