NINE Ryman League Premier Division wins in a row mean that Dover Athletic could hardly be in better shape as they switch focus to Saturday’s FA Trophy second qualifying round tie at home to Cambridge City.

And the bonus for manager Andy Hessenthaler is that he has no need to try to hurry back key duo Ollie Schulz (ankle) and Jon Wallis (hamstring) from their current injuries because his side are performing so well in their absence.

League leaders Whites were impressive 3-0 winners at Canvey last Saturday, and Hessenthaler said: "I think it proves again what we said in the close season, that you have got to have a strong bench to succeed at this level.

"No disrespect to the players who were on the bench last season, but we are definitely stronger in that department. People like Jerahl Hughes and Sam Gore have all done well when called up in recent matches, while Laurence Ball has been outstanding in place of Schulz."

Hessenthaler is hoping that Schulz, Wallis and Lee Browning, who tweaked a knee ligament in the warm-up before the Canvey game, will all be fit to return for the crunch trip to second-placed Staines a week on Saturday.