Tim Dixon will remind his Hythe Town players that they can underline their steady improvement with victory over Tooting & Mitcham United on Saturday.

Hythe began the year in a perilous 20th place in Ryman League, Division 1 South but, 12 matches on, they are now 12th and can move up another place by beating Tooting, who are immediately above them.

Dixon said: “Our philosophy since the beginning of the year has been to move up every single position that we can. If we can just look at the team immediately above us and try to get above them, that’s what we want to do.

“I know a few of the teams below us have got games in hand and may overtake us but that’s out of our control. All we want to do is to look forwards rather than backwards.”

And Dixon doesn’t believe his side’s growing self-belief will have been dented by last weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Merstham.

He added: “We were a little bit off the pace against a good side who are going to do well in the play-offs.

“But since the beginning of the year, the lads have given me everything. We’ve only had three defeats in 12 matches.”

Michael Yianni, who was suspended for the Merstham game, will be available again this weekend which should mean that Dixon will have a full squad available as Hythe seek their sixth win in their last seven matches at Reachfields.