Boss Steve Lovell hopes Herne Bay’s squad can draw inspiration from Chatham's rapid rise.

Isthmian South East Bay are set to host the Isthmian Premier club in their last pre-season friendly on Saturday before the competitive action starts at Littlehampton next weekend.

Kevin Hake’s Chatham team reached the Isthmian Premier play-off final last campaign, losing 3-0 to Enfield, as they narrowly missed out on a third straight promotion.

Ex-Gillingham manager Lovell said: “It’s great that they’re coming down.

“Their season starts at the same time as ours so we will be preparing in the same way.

"I think Kev and everyone at the club has done a tremendous job. They’re a very strong club.

“It will be a good test for us. I’m looking forward to seeing how they play.

“They’re one of the clubs we look up to with how they have developed the club - not just on the field - but off the field, as well.

"We’re looking to emulate them.

“But it will be nice once that’s out of the way because we can then get ready for the league, fine-tuning next week and getting ready to start next Sunday.”

Herne Bay were 4-2 winners at home against a youthful Gillingham XI on Tuesday.

“It was very good,” reflected Lovell, the Welshman having had three spells at Priestfield. “I think they have got some really good young players.

“I watched them play at Sheppey on Friday and they played really well. They did well on Tuesday - as we did, as well.

"I think everybody enjoyed it.

“It was a good run-out for our players. A lot of them got 90 minutes - or at least 75 minutes - and we got some goals.

“It was a good game, played in a competitive spirit.”

Striker Mike Salako bagged a hat-trick for Bay while substitute Josh Reid found the target.

“He’s a goalscorer,” Lovell said of Salako. “He’s a poacher.

“He’s always in and around that six or 18-yard box. Again on Tuesday, his goals came from the 18-yard area.

"He’s always where the ball is going to drop.

“The boys take the mickey out of him because he never scores screamers!

"But most of his goals, he’s in the right place at the right time.

“It was another good hat-trick on Tuesday and he’s getting back to the form he showed last year.”

Salako and young defender Frankie Smith, last term’s players’ player-of-the-season, have agreed to sign one-year contracts at the club and both have options to extend those terms for another year.

Lovell said: “Both of them had really good years last year. They have been rewarded, giving them a deal for the year ahead.

“They’re players at two different ends of the pitch - but they both always offer a lot.

“Frankie did well on Tuesday. He has a lot of years ahead of him.

“But it’s not just them - there’s a lot more good players at the club.

“They’re making it hard for me and Mark (his son-assistant) to pick our first starting XI.

“There’s a great camaraderie around the place, as there was last year.

“Everyone is pulling in the same direction to make sure that we have a better year than we did last year.”

Herne Bay have been drawn at home to Erith Town on Tuesday, September, 24, with the winners of the tie at home against Margate or Ramsgate.

Bay played an in-house weekend friendly after their scheduled home warm-up friendly with Isthmian North Tilbury was called off.