Alan Dowson intends to rotate his Dartford squad this Saturday - but may not introduce as many youngsters as he otherwise would have done.

With the Darts having already secured runners-up spot and home advantage in the National League South play-offs, there’s little riding on their final match of the season at 17th-placed Hampton.

Dowson intends to use the chance to rest some of his first-teamers to ensure everyone is in the best possible shape for their showdown encounters.

But the under-19s Academy side top the National League Alliance’s South Division and are amid a vital period for them too.

“They want to win their league,” said Darts boss Dowson.

“The most important thing is getting into a first-team but that’s important for them as well.

“But there are a couple of Academy lads I wouldn’t think twice about throwing in.”

They won 7-2 at Oxford City yesterday. Louie Atkins led the way with four goals, Oliver Box collected a brace and Louis Earley was also on the scoresheet.

They were due to face Woking this Friday, too, although that match now looks to have been pushed back to next month.

Dowson spent almost four years with Hampton and is looking forward to his return.

He said: “I had four of my best years there. I loved my time at Hampton.

“[Bournemouth forward] Jamal Lowe is worth £1million now. I look forward to going back there.

“If it could have decided relegation or someone getting into the play-offs, we would have gone full tilt.

“But we need to be realistic as well.”

Sam Odaudu has already made his mark at first-team level. He won the Academy product-of-the-season honour at their end-of-season awards while fellow defender Maxwell Statham was named young player-of-the-season.

“If he had played all season, he would have had a chance of getting player-of-the-year,” Dowson said of 20-year-old Odaudu.

“He’s a great talent and a great lad.

“He could go a long way.”