GRAVESEND & Northfleet are keeping their fingers crossed concerning their re-arranged F.A Trophy third round away tie with Histon tonight (Tuesday) after the original game was called off with a flood logged pitch.

Fleet boss Andy Ford is desperate to avoid a backlog of fixtures as he attempts to guide the side towards promotion out of the Ryman League Premier Division.

The match is subject to a pitch inspection at 2pm this afternoon but Histon are confident the game will be given the go-ahead. Club spokesman Gareth Baldwin said: "There wasn't too much rain overnight and with the club staff working for 10 hours yesterday we are confident the match will start."

With Gravesend playing Tooting & Mitcham in the League Cup the following evening at Stonebridge Road, Ford will need to shuffle his squad around carefully.

Liam Hatch is likely to be given a rare start up front, possibly alongside Andy Booth, but Eliot Martin and Che Stadhart are still struggling with hamstring and shoulder injuries respectively.