Dover will tonight be out to earn their first Kent derby win of the season against Dartford.

It will be Whites’ third derby clash this campaign having last month lost 2-1 at home to Tonbridge and 3-0 at Ebbsfleet.

Dartford, 14th in National League South, like 16th-placed Dover, have had a mixed start to the season ahead of the clash at Crabble (7.45pm kick-off).

“They have been a bit up and down, like ourselves,” Dartford-born Dover boss Hessenthaler said of the Darts, now managed by Alan Dowson.

“A new manager has gone in there. I know Alan really well, he has had to change things around.

“I have been at Dover for a while but we are rebuilding with a lot of new players. The new manager at Dartford is finding his feet but, listen, he knows non-league football very well.

“It’s going to be a tough game. It’s a Kent derby, we have had two and lost two.

“At the moment, we are sort of taking one step forward and two steps back. But if we start blending as a team, we will become more consistent.”

The match will be Dartford’s first Kent derby this term.

They have added to their squad ahead of the match, signing on-loan AFC Wimbledon midfielder Kwaku Frimpong.

Jordan Higgs and player-assistant manager Mitch Brundle are back in Dover's squad after missing the loss at Eastbourne through injury while home winger Luke Wanadio is set to face the club he left last season.

But defender Alex Green (elbow) and midfielder Kieron Agbebi (hamstring) are both unavailable for Whites.

Both sides head into the game with almost identical records - both are on the back of four defeats in five fixtures although Darts are two points better off after winning both of their opening games.