Tommy Warrilow wants to hear the Ashford supporters loud and proud when they look to seal play-off qualification with a derby win at Hythe on Saturday.

United will be guaranteed a top-five finish in Bostik South East if they beat the Cannons and sixth-placed VCD fail to win at Ramsgate.

Nuts & Bolts fans are bound to travel in numbers and their backing will be vital to Warrilow's men at Reachfields.

He said: "To be fair to the fans, they’ve been brilliant. The gates have gone up so they’re gradually beginning to come back.

"I think they’ll come back because as the season goes on and you’re linked with the play-offs, more people come out to watch.

"There’s going to be a big gate at Hythe because it’s a local derby. The fans know what part they play and they’ve been bang-on since we’ve come in so I’m sure they’ll be there in good voice on Saturday."

The two clubs have moved in opposite directions since Warrilow was appointed Ashford manager on November 27.

United have picked up 41 points, winning 13 out of 18 games, while Sam Denly's Hythe have only taken 23 points.

Warrilow said: "We’ve found a system and everyone’s buying into it. The lads have been absolutely fantastic.

"We weren’t sure what to expect when we walked in but now we’re miles down the line and the stats are really good.

"We’re more than delighted with the way things have gone but with that comes expectation and pressure. We don’t want that because when we had two losses, I felt a little bit of a lull, which there’s no need for.

"Every team, whether you’re top, middle or bottom, will go through a little patch of losing games and hopefully we’ve had that."

Ashford are on a five-match unbeaten run while Hythe crashed 5-2 at East Grinstead last weekend.

But Warrilow said: "It’s going to be a tough game. Being a local derby, they’re going to want to put a dent in our promotion challenge.

"The most important thing is us doing our jobs with and without the ball and trying to make life easier for ourselves by taking our chances.

"All the final games are going to be tough because after Hythe we play Cray, VCD, Hastings and Haywards Heath.

"The most important thing is to get the result but I want the performances to be right as well."

Toby Ajala is Ashford's only injury concern while Warrilow has dual-registered four Beckenham Town players for the season finale.

Forwards Billy Bennett and Luis Medina, midfielder Stefan Wright and defender Nathan Paul are all available to United, whose home game against VCD has been brought forward to Good Friday with a 3pm kick-off.