Canvey Island v Dover

Dover Athletic resume their Ryman Premier Division campaign at Canvey Island on Saturday, comforted by the knowledge their three-week break from league action has done little damage to their title ambitions.

Andy Hessenthaler’s side still hold a four-point lead with two matches in hand over second-placed Carshalton. It means that the feelgood factor is still very much in the air at Crabble as Hessenthaler and his squad prepare for the trip to Essex.

Canvey are going well in fifth place, but lost Tuesday’s FA Trophy replay 4-2 on penalties at home to Cambridge City. Had they won, they would have faced a trip to Crabble in the second qualifying round on November 1.

Midfielder Jon Wallis may have to target the Trophy tie for his return to action as Hessenthaler makes sure that he doesn’t try to come back too soon from his hamstring injury.

Centre-half Ollie Schulz was also missing in the 2-0 Trophy win at Staines last Saturday because of his ankle problem, but the encouraging aspect for Hessenthaler was that Whites kept another clean sheet – their seventh of the season – at Wheatsheaf Park to underline their strength in depth at the back, where Dean Hill and Laurence Ball again performed superbly.