Ebbsfleet United have joined the Skrill South title race with only six weeks of the season left.

Steve Brown’s side were 19 points adrift of leaders Bromley when they lost 3-1 at home to the Ravens on New Year’s Day.

But having picked up 17 points from their last seven games, the Fleet have taken full advantage of Bromley’s recent wobble to close that gap to just six points.

Second-placed Eastleigh are in the box seat, with games in hand over everyone, but Ebbsfleet’s resurgence has got manager Steve Brown daring to dream of automatic promotion.

He said: "Stranger things have happened. If Sutton (in fourth) and ourselves can keep putting wins on the board, there certainly will be pressure being felt in those two dressing-rooms, Eastleigh and Bromley.

"I don’t expect them to have disastrous runs from now to the end of the season, not the pair of them.

"But it would be interesting from the league’s perspective if there were four teams going for it in the last few weeks, wouldn’t it?"

Ebbsfleet visit struggling Whitehawk on Saturday, with centre-backs Anthony Acheampong (hamstring) and Paul Lorraine (ankle) both doubtful. That means Yado Mambo could be set for his first league start since rejoining the Fleet.