Hythe’s players only have two more opportunities to audition for a place in Tim Dixon’s starting XI on the opening day of the season.

Cannons host a Maidstone XI tonight (Wednesday) before entertaining local rivals Ashford United at Reachfields on Saturday.

Then comes the trip to South Park on Saturday, August 8 – Hythe’s first game of the new Ryman League Division 1 South season.

Dixon said: "I’m almost there now. I wanted to know what my starting XI was by these games, so I won’t be trying too many things.

"I’ll be looking at something like my strongest team although I do have a couple of players missing for the first game. Burchy (Josh Burchell) is suspended and Scott Punton’s away.

"I’ve got to be looking at my starting XI by the Ashford game on Saturday."

Read the full story in the Folkestone & Hythe Express.