Martin Hayes says he thinks the Blue Square Bet South promotion race will go down to the wire and he hopes his Dover Athletic squad has the depth to cope.

Seventh-placed Dover travel to sixth-placed Welling on Saturday with the winner able to claim a top three place.

Dover boss Hayes (pictured) says he wants his side to get back on track after taking a single point from two games after the end of their FA Cup adventure at Huddersfield, culminating in a 4-1 drubbing at Farnborough on Saturday.

Hayes said: "I have seen hangovers from a cup run happen time and again and I have been on both ends of them.

"We looked a spent force from the start. It was a poor show but we were playing a good side and got what we deserved – a thumping."

He added: "Every time we’ve had a poor show we’ve responded well and I hope we can do that again."

Hayes added: "Any of the top eight sides have a chance to go up and the race will run until the end of the season."

Rob Gilman (shoulder) and Barry Cogan (knee) could return on Saturday but Sam Cutler (knee) could miss three or four weeks while Elliot Charles remains another week from fitness.