Steve Watt is expecting Hythe’s toughest game of the season when they visit Ashford this Saturday.

The Cannons are just a point behind the Nuts & Bolts in the Isthmian South East play-off race after Jason Fregene’s second-half goal in a 1-0 victory over Chichester last weekend.

Ashford are a wounded animal after losing 5-1 at Cray Valley, with all to play for at Homelands.

“It’s probably our toughest test of the season, playing one of Tommy Warrilow’s teams,” said Hythe boss Watt.

“Ashford got to the play-off final last year and I know it’s a different squad but it’s the same management. They know what they’re coming up against and vice-versa.

“There’s a lot riding on it but these are the games you want to be involved in at this stage of the season.

“We’ll approach it like we approach every game, trying to get a win that will take us another step towards our goal.”

Watt and Ashford boss Warrilow are good friends and a lot of the players know each other.

That all goes out the window for 90 minutes in pursuit of play-off points.

“I want to win the game and Tommy will be exactly the same,” said Watt.

“Win, lose or draw, we’ll have a beer after the game, but you always want to win.

“There’s a lot of friends in either camp and lots to play for, which adds to the excitement.

“I don’t think it’s one where you can say it’s season over if one of us loses, not by a long stretch, because there’s still another six games to play.

“However, if someone wins, it gives you momentum and confidence to attack the remaining games with the right mentality.

“Ashford have had a blip on Saturday but that means nothing.

“If anything, it makes them stronger because they’ll want to put things right.”

Hythe moved above Chichester into ninth place - four points off the top five - after last weekend’s victory.

It was a tight game but Hythe nicked it after Fregene pounced from Frannie Collin’s corner.

“Over two games, Chichester have probably been the best team we’ve played this season,” said Watt.

“It was a carbon copy of the first game, only this time we got the goal from a set-piece.

“If it had finished as a draw I’d have had no complaints.”