By Andrew Gidley

Manager Liam Daish admits Ebbsfleet couldn’t have been handed a tougher welcome back to top flight Conference football with York City the visitors to Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

York missed out on promotion back to the Football League last season but are 9-1 third favourites for the title with league sponsors Blue Square, behind Luton and Fleetwood and Daish (pictured) is well aware of the task facing his side.

He said: "It’s most definitely one of the toughest starts we could have got and makes you realise the league you are in, when York can go out and pay £60,000 for striker Jason Walker at this level."

Daish hopes that all his injury doubts report fit on Saturday.

Goalkeepers Preston Edwards and new signing Joe Welsh are chasing the No.1 shirt and both had a half each in the 6-0 drubbing of Erith & Belvedere last Saturday. Trialists Alex Stavrinou and John Herd both featured in that game.

Two possible debutants for the Fleet will be defender Ian Simpemba and striker Liam Enver-Marum, while Scott Ginty also misses out after picking up an injury early in pre-season.

Skipper Paul Lorraine will miss the start of the season, following an operation last week on a wrist injury.