Steve Watt believes his Margate squad will relish the challenge posed by two big Bostik Premier matches in the next week.

Eighth-placed Blues host Harrow Borough at Hartsdown on Saturday before travelling to Sammy Moore’s Leatherhead on Wednesday.

Both sides are just above the Blues, with Harrow in fifth and the Tanners just one place further back and the Gate boss says the games will provide a good benchmark of just where his side are.

He said: “We’ve got two tough matches coming up but these are the type of games as a player you look forward to, I certainly did when I was playing and I’ll be no different as a manager.

“They’re the sort of games you want to do well in. We’ve got two teams just above us and I expect to go in full of confidence.”

Watt’s confidence is well placed. The Gate have won six matches in a row in all competitions – including a testing FA Cup second qualifying round tie away to Evo-Stik Southern Premier side Kings Langley on Saturday.

The only goal came just before the hour from Orlando Smith who volleyed in a cross from substitute Dave Martin, a half-time replacement for Harry Stannard.

Watt admitted it was not one of Margate’s most fluent performances but he was delighted with the result and even more so when Monday’s third qualifying round draw saw them handed a plum home derby with Bostik South Herne Bay.

He said: “We weren’t at our best at all. We all knew that but what was encouraging was that we kept another clean sheet.

“It was a tricky tie and I can see why they’ve had so much success in recent years but Lenny Pidgeley (the Gate keeper) only had two saves to make in the whole match.

“It was a great goal from Orlando, who had hit the post in the first half. He’s an exciting player, he can create goals out of nothing (for others) but I’ve asked him to add goals to his game so it’s been pleasing to see him get a couple lately.”

The Bay game will be played at Hartsdown on Saturday, September 30, and Watt said: “It’s a great tie for both clubs.

“We spoke after Saturday and first and foremost we wanted a home tie because when you’re so close to the first round proper (they would be one more game away) you want to give yourself the best chance of going through.

“It’s a tie we think we can win but they’re flying at the moment so they’ll probably be fancying their chances as well.”

Jay May returns to the Gate squad for the weekend after being cup tied for the Kings Langley game but fellow striker Jordan Chiedozie is ruled out following his red card against Worthing earlier this month.