Chatham manager Kevin Watson believes his side could be playing Ryman League Division 1 South football next season.

Now in their fourth consecutive season in the North division, Chats are burdened by long away trips and very few local derbies.

But that could change in 2015-16, depending on promotions and relegations at the end of the current campaign.

Ramsgate and Hythe are struggling in Division 1 South, while Southern Counties East leaders Phoenix Sports would most likely be placed in the North division if they went up.

Chats head to Great Wakering Rovers on Saturday just three places above the relegation zone.

“It’s important to stay in this league,” Watson said. “Looking at the teams (potentially) coming down and the teams coming up, I do think we have a really good chance of going in the South."

Great Wakering is the first of 13 games Chatham have left to preserve their Step 4 status for another season.

Watson said: “We’ve got to give ourselves a chance by staying in the league.

“I’d like to think we’ve got a stronger case (for being moved) than in previous years. But obviously when it comes to the constitutions, we’re not in control of it."