Tonbridge host Dartford this weekend with both teams in much better shape than their previous meeting.

The Kent rivals made relatively slow starts to the National League South season but are now in play-off contention.

Angels boss Jay Saunders and opposite number Alan Dowson have led their sides into the top half, and sit three and four points off the top seven respectively.

Darts edged a dour game 1-0 at Princes Park in September but the return game at Longmead on Saturday should be a better encounter.

“It’ll be an interesting one,” said Saunders.

“When we went there earlier in the season I think it was a time when both sets of supporters wanted me and Dowse out and now we’re both looking at trying to get in the play-offs, so it’s been an interesting few months.

“Both teams are in good form. He’s made some good signings, so have we, and both teams are in a different place to where we were when we played each other before.

“It was a nothing game at their place. We never looked like scoring. I don’t think either team created much.

“They scored a goal and we couldn’t get back into it.

“You normally find Kent derbies are a bit tighter but it’s a game we’re looking forward to.

“Hopefully there’ll be a big crowd and we can put on a good performance.”

Tonbridge are back in action after a weekend off.

They’re refreshed going into the Dartford game and looking to maintain their play-off push.

Saunders, who took the chance to go scouting last Saturday, said: “These next few games are important for us because if we come out of the Christmas period with good results we could be sitting in the play-offs.

“At the same time, if we come out of the next three or four games with not a lot, we could be looking over our shoulder again. The league is that tight.

“What we’ve done is put ourselves in a position to push on and hopefully we can do that.

“First and foremost, we’re thinking about Dartford.

“In derbies, you can play really well and come out with nothing or play crap and nick the win.

“It’s just about making sure we prepare right, which we will do, and hopefully we can come away with the points.”

Tonbridge’s early-season changes have certainly helped their form.

They released a number of players whose summer moves didn’t work out.

The likes of Sean Shields have come in to boost the squad and raised the standards of existing players.

Saunders said: “When you’re bringing in the likes of Shieldsy, and people like that, who’ve been at good levels for a long time, I think they demand it out of other people.

“We had it last year when we brought the likes of Scott Wagstaff in.

“People realise these lads are good and bring something different.

“It makes everyone step up and has a knock-on effect and that’s what you want.

“It’s not just on the pitch, you’re hoping they add off the pitch and the lads who’ve come in have done that.

“It’s easy to leave things as they are and say ‘let’s see how we get on’ but I can’t work like that.

“We had to make changes and when you’re bringing in good players, it helps.

“They’ve made a massive difference.”