Boss Steve King expects Deal to come up against dangerous opposition in their next match.

The Hoops will return to Isthmian South East action for the first time in more than two weeks when they welcome relegation-threatened Steyning Town to the Charles Sports Ground on Tuesday after last weekend’s match at Merstham fell victim to the weather.

Steyning have been beaten in five of their past eight league games, although they have won the other three since the turn of the calendar year.

King, who will be without suspended defenders Josh Vincent and Jack Paxman, said: “Sides that are fighting for their lives become very dangerous at this stage of the season.

“Steyning have got some decent results recently.

“We haven’t actually played them yet, so we’re relying on the reports we have got on them. Our home form, apart from the Erith game last time out, has been good.

“At home on a Tuesday night, we will be hoping to get another three points.”

King had been scheduled to travel to Merstham with a threadbare squad before the clash was called off.

“We hadn’t left,” said the manager, whose players still headed on a pre-arranged team night out on Saturday evening. “With the rainfall overnight, nothing could be done.

“They’re in good form so I’m sure they would have wanted it to be on. We never want games off but, with the injuries we have got, it gave them a bit of recovery time, to be fair.”

The enforced break has given 14th-placed Deal a good chance to take stock after a run of six defeats in seven.

King said: “We have been on a little bit of a tough run and we know that.

“We don’t have a backlog of games, either, so it’s not a huge issue. Obviously, we still have got the suspensions.

“But hopefully, with no game in midweek or on Saturday, it gives your Rory Smiths a good two-and-a-half weeks from the Erith game.

“We can do a bit of work on the training ground and it gives us a chance to take stock.”

In their first season at the level, it’s clear to tell where the Hoops’ strengths and weaknesses have been.

King said: “It all depends how you want to look at it.

“We have won a lot of games and we had scored the fourth-most goals - even after Beckenham put nine in on Saturday. From that point of view, it’s good.

“Then, we have conceded a lot of goals and lost a lot of games, as well. We haven’t always got what we’ve deserved all the time this season.

“But it’s been a learning curve and that has been important.”

Deal have another fixture-free weekend coming up.

King said: “We will be out as a management team on Saturday watching games.

"We have got a few games we have earmarked.”