Dartford v Margate

The top half of the Ryman League Premier Division table is in Dartford’s sights as their league resurrection continues.

The Darts have won their last three matches and go into Saturday’s home Kent derby clash with Margate on a roll.

Tony Burman’s side are on the climb and, from a rock bottom spot in the early weeks of the season, they now sit 13th.

Burman said: “After the first weeks of the season, I would have been pleased to be 13th but points-wise it’s a disappointing tally and there is no denying that.

“We have been playing okay and we have deserved more points that we’ve got. It’s taken a little while to settle and the teams that did well at the start of the season are starting to wobble.”

Striker Rob Haworth, who was ruled out with an infected leg after getting knocked off his bike.

Haworth has an outside chance of returning to face his former side Margate, who he left in the summer.

That could mean another place in the side for Darts’ under-21 striker James Taylor, who made a brief debut against Billericay.

Lee Noble (ankle) should be fit but Nick Barnes (ankle) is a doubt. Definitely out are Steve Norman (hernia), Alex O’Brien (tendinitis) and Richard Ketchell (ankle).

Barry Ashby’s Margate side head to Princes Park sitting fourth from bottom and with on-going financial problems, but Burman is still expecting a battle.

“It will be a great game and it’s one we’re looking forward to,” he said.

“They have had to put a new side together and they are a young side. It’s difficult when you have to change a side completely. They will want to come down and play and we’re expecting a tough game.”

The Margate game was originally scheduled for Tuesday night but has been brought forward as both sides’ original opponents this weekend are in FA Cup action.

Youngster Jack Parkinson is set to return to the Margate squad for the trip to Kent rivals Dartford.

The former VCD defender on a three-month loan from Welling United returns after a two-game ban, and could start in Gate's first ever competitive game at Princes Park.

One blow for Margate is the news that young defender Louis Smith has been ruled out for the rest of the season, after suffering serious cruciate knee ligament damage. The club believe he will be sidelined for between five and seven months.