Boss Jake Leberl has warned Dover’s squad they cannot allow their performance levels to drop.

The Isthmian Premier pacesetters are on a six-match unbeaten league run, having played out a 1-1 weekend draw at Chatham, equalising through 14-goal top scorer George Nikaj’s second-half strike.

That point followed a fifth straight league win at Folkestone last midweek, midfielder Luke Baptiste getting the only goal in front of a crowd of 2,906.

Next up for Dover are favourable fixtures at home to mid-table Canvey Island on Saturday before a trip to struggling Bowers & Pitsea seven days later.

It’s easy for players to get motivated for derbies - but Whites now need to maintain those standards.

Leberl said: “That’s really important. I haven’t really crossed that bridge yet.

“On paper, the last three were going to be harder than the next two games we have got - but that’s not how football works.

“Canvey Island picked up a last-minute winner on Saturday [in a 2-1 victory against Whitehawk].

Report: Chatham 1-1 Dover

Mixed emotions for Leberl after derby draw

Report: Folkestone 0-1 Dover

“They’re coming along nicely after a relatively poor start.

“Generally, they have got some very dangerous players so we know that we’ll have to be at our best to win any game.”

Newly-promoted Cray Valley are Dover’s nearest early challengers in what Leberl accepts could be a tight division.

“Hornchurch ran away with it last year and I can’t really see anyone doing that,” he said.

“Cray are doing really well. I know [boss] Steve McKimm really well from when we played together.

"He’s got a similar sort of philosophy to mine, really, and has got a really good group. I said to Mike Sandmann (Dover’s No.2) at the beginning of the season I thought they would be strong.

“Obviously, we had two of our normal back four out on Saturday. Joe Tennent is out with a sort of ankle problem and Roman Charles-Cook was suspended, and that’s when things might get a bit difficult.

“We have got a really small squad.

"We have got a few boys on four bookings, so they’re one away [from a ban], and that’s where we’re at, whereas a lot of these other clubs have huge squads and huge budgets.”

Grenada international right-back Charles-Cook is now available and may come straight back into the side.

As the 20-year-old served a three-game ban, Tamas Amgbaduba deputised - only to suffer an ankle injury at Chatham.

“I’ve just tapped Roman on the shoulder and said ‘You might have got lucky there’ because I think Tamas has been immense in the last three games,” revealed Leberl, who had teenage defender Matty Holness in his squad at the Bauvill Stadium after a loan spell with neighbours Deal.

“But we’ll see how Tamas is. Hopefully, it’s just a bit of a rolled ankle and he’ll be fine.”

With Tennent and Charles-Cook unavailable, defender Jacob Mensah made his first Dover league start since rejoining from Welling.

Leberl said: “I felt I was being a little bit harsh on Jerry (Jeremiah Gyebi).

"We expected Freddie Sears to play so we went with Jacob rather than Jerry, just purely because he has got a bit more pace.

“We didn’t expect them to play a big boy up front.

"I felt a little bit disappointed for Jerry because he probably felt he deserved the opportunity.

“But, unfortunately, that’s football and you have to make these tough decisions.”

Dover have offered fans the chance to buy half-season tickets. They will come into use from week commencing Monday, December 16, and will cost £145 for adults and £133 for concessions.

Tickets can be ordered from reception at Crabble, email enquiries@doverathletic.com or call 01304 822373.