Nat Blanks says Folkestone Invicta are in dreamland as they prepare for the Bostik Premier play-offs.

Left-back Blanks has had six good years at the club but nothing compares to this amazing campaign.

Having only escaped relegation on the final day of last season, Invicta are now pushing for promotion to National League South.

Blanks said: "We're in dreamland. No-one expected us to be achieving what we are this year and to be in contention for going up, we wouldn't have dreamed it.

"Every game is a cup final for us now. The excitement is palpable.

"A lot of the team have had experience at this level and higher and are desperate to get back there and put themselves in the shop window.

"I'm really looking forward to it and I know the team, management and fans are fully committed and pulling in the same direction. Bring it on and let's see how it goes."

Blanks, 30, has racked up more than 250 appearances for the club although he's not been ever-present this season.

He's an assistant headteacher at a primary school in London and that's a position which demands lots of his time.

Blanks said: "Undertaking a new job certainly put me under a bit of pressure at the start of the season.

"It's been a massive step up for me and I haven't played as many games as I'd have liked but work commitments have been responsible for that.

"As I've got to grips with the job and the season's gone on, I've worked my way back into the side and hit a bit of form in the last couple of weeks. Hopefully I can carry that into the play-offs."

Folkestone scored their 100th league goal of the season at the weekend and there's no question they provide great entertainment.

But the swashbuckling approach of manager Neil Cugley does leave his defenders with a lot on their plate at times.

"It is tough," Blanks admitted. "If you've got four or five bodies up the pitch, it can leave you exposed at times but we will always outscore teams.

"But having a regular back four has definitely helped. We had two massive departures at the end of last season, our centre-half pairing for the last six or seven years (Liam Friend and Frankie Chappell) so to replace them was always going to be a tall order. But now that's settled and players have played a full season together.

"We've been blessed with a striker who's bagged 30-plus goals (Ade Yusuff) but we've had goals from everywhere and that's helped us get to 100."

Folkestone, who travelled to Thurrock last night (Tuesday), host promotion rivals Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday.