Kevin Hake’s Sheppey & Sheerness United travel to APM Contrast on Saturday for a game that could have significant importance for the future of both teams.

They are the only two haart of Kent County League sides to have applied for promotion to the Kent Invicta League and it’s currently advantage Sheppey in the Premier Division standings.

Hake’s side are 12 points clear of APM but their rivals have two games in hand.

A win for Sheppey would all-but-secure their place in the league above for next season – four years ahead of schedule. Hake’s side have won their last five games but the manager knows the match on Saturday will be huge.

He said: “We are taking it one game at a time and I can’t look beyond APM. This one is massive. Before the game against Stansfeld (on Monday) I told the players we could end their title hopes and we did that, winning 5-1.

“We now need to do the same to APM. They know we still have to go to (league leaders) Metrogas and if we lose on Saturday then they may think they’ve got a chance.

“They will be nine points behind with two games in hand.”

Sheppey’s duel with APM isn’t the only concern. The league title is in the club’s sights and they are just a point behind Metrogas with a game in hand.