By Tony Hudd

Andy Hessenthaler is battling against soaring expectations at Crabble ahead of Dover’s long-awaited start to their Blue Square South campaign.

Dover play their first game at Maidenhead on Saturday with supporters believing a third straight promotion to be a distinct possibility. Their overwhelming optimism is fuelled by a mere eight league defeats in two years.

Player-manager Hessenthaler, pictured, said: "While I have every confidence in the squad we’ve assembled, we’re entering a tough division.

"A third straight promotion would be a marvellous achievement but I’m under no illusions just how difficult this division is going to be.

"No way am I attempting to curb the enthusiasm of our supporters whose loyalty has served the club so well over the years, but I think it’s only right and proper that I’m honest with them because we’re making such a big step up."

Hessenthaler asked that his squad be judged after the first 10 games when the division settles down. He also said that he intends rotating his squad.

"These days it’s a squad game and while in the past we’ve gone away from home and never been afraid to attack, we’re going to be tighter away from Crabble," he said.