Justin Luchford has called on his Whitstable Town players to ‘rise above’ an expected physical battle with Sittingbourne on Saturday to make it two wins from three straight derby games.

The Oystermen bounced back from the 3-2 home defeat to Faversham with a 2-1 win at Ramsgate at the weekend and go into Saturday’s visit of the Brickies knowing victory could take them into the Ryman League Division 1 South play-off places.

Manager Luchford (pictured) said: "It was important to get back on track after the Faversham game and we did that. As it is now we have only lost one in six."

He added: "If we’d lost both those games it would have been a poor week and would have put a real downer on everything we’re doing here.

"After 78 minutes against Faversham it was looking like it could be a very good week, but that didn’t happen. It was important that we came out of the two games with at least three points to show for it. It would have been a travesty if we’d not done that."

The Brickies are only below Town on goal difference and Luchford said: "It will be a tough game.

"You don’t know quite what to expect from them, I’ve heard reports they have played some nice football this season, but still, we’re at home, they are going to come at us and try to unsettle us.

"They will try and get in our faces, so we can’t get upset. We’re better than that and we need to rise above it."