Daryl McMahon insists Ebbsfleet are ready for their play-off clash with Whitehawk.

The teams play the first leg of their National League South semi-final at the Enclosed Ground in Brighton tonight (Wednesday), kick-off 7.45pm.

Runners-up Fleet beat Eastbourne 4-2 on Saturday while a 3-0 win for Whitehawk at Hemel Hempstead saw them snatch the final play-off spot on the last day of the season.

McMahon said: "It’ll be a difficult game. They’ve come into the play-offs in good form and they’ve got some very good players still there.

"The lads are looking forward to this challenge. We’re ready for it, of course we are.

"We’ve been preparing for these moments since July 1 last year.

"We’ve prepared to try to win promotion and we’ve put ourselves in a good position. We’ve had a terrific season - two points a game normally makes you champions but not this year.

"They’ll see flaws in us, like we all do as managers and coaches. You pick sides apart to give your team belief and a plan, how you’re going to win. We go there confident."

Whitehawk were fighting a relegation battle not long ago but manager Pablo Asensio, who took over from Steve King in February, oversaw a seven-match unbeaten run which culminated in the crucial win at Hemel.

They looked to dominate possession under King but McMahon said: "I think Pablo was the driving force behind how they played. It’s his style.

"Kingy was the architect of bringing players in and Pablo took a lot of the stuff from what I gather.

"They’ll try to play, like they always do. You know how Whitehawk play, they’re not going to change, they’re set up to play that way.

"They’ve got some good players, Torres, Ijaha, Mills, Robinson, Martin, so it’ll be a tough test and they’re there on merit."

Ebbsfleet have midfielder Dean Rance available after suspension but defenders Matt Fish and Kenny Clark are both injury doubts.

Dean Pooley started against Eastbourne but a tight calf saw him withdrawn as a precaution after just 18 minutes.

Fleet midfielders John Paul Kissock and Sam Deering could both face their former club on Wednesday but Michael West and Alex Osborn, who both finished the season on loan with the Hawks, can't play against their parent club.