Hendon v Dartford

Promotion may be a long shot this season but one thing Dartford manager Tony Burman can guarantee is his team will be giving their all.

The Darts step up a level after last season’s promotion to the Ryman League, Premier Division and Burman knows that the days of six and seven goal victories are behind them.

They open their league campaign on Saturday with a trip to Hendon before hosting rivals Dover in a mouth-watering derby on Tuesday night at Princes Park.

“I didn’t predict that we would win the league last year and I’m not going to predict it this year,” said Burman. “What I can predict though is that we’ll be working hard.

“Like all managers at the start of the season you want to think you can win it and I’m no different. When reality kicks in things might change.

“We’ve got to start thinking we can do well and I feel that, at the moment, the squad is strong enough but if we have to improve and make changes then we will.

“Hendon are a good side – they all are in this division."

Alex O’Brien (tendinitis) and Steve Norman (groin) will be assessed this week.