Garry Hill believes Ebbsfleet are good enough to mix it at the very top end of the National League.

Fleet are on a seven-match unbeaten run which has taken them to within five points of the play-offs.

Only three teams are in better form than Hill’s side, who have conceded just one goal in nine hours of league football.

Four weeks since he was appointed, the manager has seen enough to know what Ebbsfleet can achieve this season.

Hill said: “There’s a lot of very good players at the football club and they’ve got to believe.

“It doesn’t matter what I say or what (assistant manager) Ian Hendon says, they’ve got to cross that line, be consistent and know they’re as good as anything in this league.

“That’s what it’s about because momentum can take you very quickly in this league, especially at this time of year when you have seven games, 21 points.

“If you can win five or six games, all of a sudden you reach the new year and people are saying ‘where did they come from?’ That’s how football goes.”

Ebbsfleet host Barnet on Saturday looking for a third straight league win at Stonebridge Road.

They comfortably won the reverse fixture 3-0 in August although John Still has led the Bees up the table since then.

Hill said: “I think everybody’s seeing the belief coming in our performances.

“There won’t be anybody dropping their standards or getting carried away.

“It is purely a case of hard work, having that belief and trying to push on.

“You’ve all got to be in it together. You’ve probably already realised that it’s got to be the way I want, the playing squad and management staff all working together as one.

“We won on Saturday and everyone has to go over to the supporters. It’s very easy to shake hands, walk in there and have a shower and go but we mustn’t forget them.”

Fleet are now running with a squad of 18 players following recent departures.

Hill said: “We don’t need a big squad at this football club. The squad’s been too big, the boss wants a structure change and I respect that totally.

“That’s been changed in respect of certain certain players moving on and that’s football.

“Some of these players have under-achieved but they’re capable of putting a run together which can surprise a lot of people above us.”

Dave Winfield and Andy Drury could return to the squad on Saturday after missing the 2-0 win at Aldershot through injury.