Both teams will be keen to put midweek defeats behind them when Dover host Worthing this Saturday.

Whites lost 2-0 at third-bottom Cheshunt in National League South on Tuesday, with coach Mike Sandmann and player-assistant manager Mitch Brundle taking charge with boss Andy Hessenthaler not making the trip due to Covid.

But sixth-placed Worthing are also reeling after they lost 6-0 at home to leaders Ebbsfleet.

Dover’s defeat at Cheshunt came after a 1-1 draw at Crabble last weekend against St Albans.

Winger Luke Wanadio put Whites ahead from the spot in the 27th minute before Shaun Jeffers levelled with a penalty after a foul by Jordan Higgs.

Jeffers had the chance to give St Albans the lead with a third penalty of the match following a challenge by defender Myles Judd but he saw his spot-kick saved by Stuart Nelson.

“I thought it was a good point for us, to be honest,” said Sandmann on Monday, who is Dover’s first-team coach and Academy manager.

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“We still had our chances and could have taken all three points but, over the course of the game, they have had the better chances and two penalties.

“Sometimes, you need to give the opposition credit. I thought they are the best team we have faced at Crabble this year.

“Looking back at the first penalty, I think that’s extremely soft. But the second one is a penalty. Juddy got caught but the first penalty is extremely harsh on Higgsy.”

There’s a busy period ahead for 12th-placed Whites who also visit Tonbridge for a Kent derby on Tuesday.

Sandmann said: “There’s lots of games coming thick and fast before the Christmas period.

“We just need to get close to the play-offs and who knows what can happen?”

Dover presently sit seven points outside the play-offs and eight adrift of the Rebels.

The two sides met at Woodside Road on the opening day of the league season, captain Lee Martin on target for the visitors in a 1-1 draw.

It'll be Whites' last home league fixture of 2022 when they host Worthing.