Margate manager Nikki Bull is keeping his fingers crossed striker Michael Thalassitis will be fit to play in Tuesday's re-arranged FA Cup tie at home to Hastings.

A hamstring injury meant that Thalassitis would not have played had the third qualifying round tie been staged when originally scheduled on Saturday, but Bull is hoping the extra few days' rest might give the forward a better chance.

The 23-year-old former Ebbsfleet United man has three goals for the Gate this season including the opener in the 2-0 home win over Biggleswade in the previous round when he was also man-of-the-match.

Bull explained: "Michael has been struggling with a tight hamstring and failed a fitness test on Saturday.

"He wanted to give it a go but it was clear he wouldn't be able to play so we'll have to assess him again on Tuesday."

Thalassitis isn't Bull's only concern for the Hastings game. Lewis Taylor and Matthias Fanimo both remain sidelined by Achilles problems while centre-half Brett Johnson has a hamstring injury which is likely to sideline him for three weeks and Scott Donnelly is still troubled by his knee injury.

Winger Vas Karagiannis has returned to Maidstone after the completion of his loan spell but skipper Luke Moore is available for selection after becoming a father for the first time at the end of last week.

The Hastings tie was moved to Tuesday after the original game was called off an hour before kick-off due to waterlogging in one of the goalmouths.

Bull said he felt the referee had little option to make the decision even though conditions had improved significantly by the time the 3pm kick-off came round.

The Gate boss added: “By then the sun was out and the pitch was perfectly playable, but at 2pm there was no one in the ground saying he’d made the wrong decision."

Awaiting the winner of Tuesday's tie is a trip to Ryman League Premier Division side Harrow Borough on Saturday, October 15.