Manager Mitch Brundle hopes a break from league action can give Dover’s season a desperately-needed tonic.

Out-of-form Whites have taken just two National League South points from seven league games since they collected four from their first two fixtures of the campaign.

They lost 3-1 at home to Weymouth last weekend.

Dover will host Isthmian Premier Hastings in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round this Saturday after the Sussex side won their replay 2-1 at home to Erith & Belvedere last Wednesday.

But Brundle, who had midfielder Johl Powell sent off for a second bookable offence on his home debut against Weymouth, said: “No game is kind at the minute, nothing is kind to us as a football club.

“Is it a massive game? Yes, of course. I want to have a cup run.

“The FA Cup has always excited me as a player and, as a kid, I watched it.

“It will be a long, hard week for us to make sure we get it right.

“We went to watch them [Hastings] play on Wednesday against Erith & Belvedere. We’ve done our research.

“They scored two late goals on Saturday [to secure a 2-1 win over Haringey].

“But it’s about us turning up on the day. We want to have a good run, of course we do.

“Hopefully, it’s a good break from the league. You’ve got to look at everything positively.

“You’re going to get negatives from people who have come to watch and not seen their team perform. They have their right to say what they say.

“But me, personally, and my team will be going into that game with a positive mindset. It’s a break away from the league.

“It’s a one-off game and you want to go as far as you can in the FA Cup.”

Brundle, 28, insists he’s old enough to turn it around and be a success as Dover’s boss.

He said: “A couple of weeks ago, it was all positive.

“That’s how football works. You win three games, you’re the best person in the world. You lose a game and people start questioning you.

“People question my age but people question the age of all sorts of players and managers.

“But I don’t question myself, not at all. I know what I’ve got to work with.

“I know we haven’t been a million miles away but I know there’s something that we need to add.”

Brundle, who intends to release some of the players involved against Weymouth, says the absence of midfielder Henry Young has hit them hard.

The teenage Academy graduate has been sidelined since their 1-1 home draw against Chippenham earlier this month.

“I think we’re missing Henry – as much as that means putting pressure on a 17-year-old,” he said.

“We’re missing that balance of him and Dunney [skipper James Dunne] in midfield.

“Hopefully, he’s back this week.”

Weekend visitors Hastings have former Dover captain Craig Stone as their player-assistant.

The 34-year-old previously worked as a youth coach at Gillingham and he played for Whites from 2013 until 2015.

On his Crabble return, Brundle, who saw ex-Ramsgate and Maidstone defender Jacob Mensah make his debut against Weymouth, with substitute Roman Charles-Cook getting their consolation goal, said: “I’ve met him before at Gillingham when I’ve gone to watch games.

“But I’m not really fussed about the reception he’ll get.

“I’m more worried about whether we will turn up and win the game.”

Powell will miss out through suspension.

The winners will earn £3,375.