Dover will be out to end a run of two consecutive National League defeats when they host Chester FC at Crabble on Saturday.
Losses at Macclesfield Town and Lincoln City have seen boss Chris Kinnear’s side drop to sixth on the ladder on goal difference behind Barrow.
Whites will also want to secure a first win at home since the 3-1 triumph against Woking on November 22.
But the boss is not letting the formbook get to him.
He said: “It is always disappointing to lose, but we are not going to overreact to recent defeats.
“With second to fifth all facing each other, Saturday will provide a great opportunity for us to make up some ground and hopefully we can end the day in the play-off positions again.”
Chester FC scored five second half goals to beat Dover 5-0 earlier this season and condemn Whites to their heaviest league defeat in two years.
Something captain Jamie Grimes wants to erase from the memory bank.
He said: “We owe Chester after probably our worst performance of the season at their place in October.
“It was possibly a false score in the end after having played 60 minutes with goalkeeper Steve Arnold hobbling around with a fractured foot.
“But that doesn’t make that result any easier to bear – that hurt, so hopefully we can put it right on Saturday.”
CHESTER’S RECENT FORM
The Blues came from behind the draw 1-1 against visiting Wrexham in the cross-border derby last Saturday.
Former Chester man John Rooney put Wrexham ahead in the second half after he scored from close range.
James Alabi levelled for the hosts from the penalty spot after he had been brought down by James Jennings.
Chester finished the game with 10 men after a second yellow card for captain Luke George.
Alabi also scored a double in Chester’s previous league game, a 2-1 win at Braintree Town.
RECENT MEETINGS
01/10/16: Chester 5-0 Dover Athletic
24/11/15: Chester 1-1 Dover Athletic
15/08/15: Dover Athletic 0-0 Chester
11/04/15: Chester 3-1 Dover Athletic
11/10/14: Dover Athletic 2-0 Chester
HITMEN
Whites’ top scorer in the National League this season is Ricky Miller with 25.
Miller’s strike partners Ross Lafayette and Moses Emmanuel are also both in double figures with Emmanuel on 11 and Lafayette with 10 to his name.
Alabi is Chester’s leading man with 11 goals.
DOVER TEAM NEWS
Assistant boss Jake Leberl said on Friday that there are no injury concerns although Ricky Modeste’s involvement remains to be seen as he awaits the birth of his first child.
TICKET NEWS
Tickets can still be purchased on the day and this match is NOT segregated.
COVERAGE
The game starts at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip up the hill to Crabble, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens!
SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES (3pm)
Aldershot Town v York City
Barrow v Forest Green Rovers
Bromley v Southport
Eastleigh v Woking
North Ferriby United v Macclesfield Town
Solihull Moors v Maidstone United
Torquay United v Gateshead
Tranmere Rovers v Dagenham & Redbridge
Wrexham v Boreham Wood
AWAY DAYS
Dover hit the road for two National League games at North Ferriby United and Woking Town with Supporters Club coach details as follows for travelling fans.
NORTH FERRIBY UNITED (3pm Saturday, February 18)
Coach leaves Crabble at 7.30am and the cost is as follows:
Adults Members £30, Adult Non Members £45 and accompanied child (under 16) £10.
WOKING TOWN (7.45pm Tuesday, February 28)
Coach leaves Crabble at 4.30pm and the cost is as follows:
Adults Members £15, Adult Non Members £30 and accompanied child (under 16) £10.
Please call or text Andy Fisher on 0793 4300335 to book your seat or see him in the Centre Spot before or after today’s game.
You are now required to pay for your seat in advance in cash or by cheque or via bank transfer.
Visit http://www.dasc.co.uk/ for all the details.