Boss Reece Prestedge believes Hornchurch are the Isthmian Premier title favourites - as Margate prepare to visit them tonight.

Both clubs head into the match (kick-off 7.45pm) after opening-day Isthmian Premier triumphs.

Player-coach Phil Roberts bagged a brace for Gate in their 2-1 home success against newly-promoted Whitehawk on Saturday while Hornchurch, now managed by ex-Millwall, Leeds and Norwich striker Steve Morison, won at Horsham by the same scoreline.

Margate also have matches against Concord and Cheshunt - relegated from National League South - and a Bank Holiday derby at Folkestone to come before the end of a tricky first month.

Prestedge said: “Hornchurch are probably favourites to win it, in my opinion.

“Then we have got Concord, Cheshunt and Folkestone so we’ve got quite a tough run. Two of them have come down from Step 2.

“But if we play the way we have been playing and work as hard as we did on Saturday, I don’t see why we cannot get a result.”

Former Folkestone players Nathan Green and Ade Yusuff, as well as ex-Gillingham and Dartford striker Liam Nash, are among Morison’s squad at Hornchurch.

Margate’s match against Cheshunt has been moved to next Friday to allow players extra recovery time ahead of Bank Holiday Monday games.