MARGATE have switched their New Year’s Day home fixture from Dover's Crabble Ground, where they are playing this season due to planned ground improvements, to their own Hartsdown Park pitch.

The late switch in venues is due to a waterlogged pitch. The club is predicting a bank holiday crowd of more than 2,000 spectators for the Conference clash with Gravesend and Northfleet as Margate look to climb the table.

Manager Chris Kinnear is able to field an almost full strength squad that features Bordeaux striker Jean-Michel Sigere, Sierra Leone international John Keister, and former Arsenal midfielders Adrian Clarke and Greg Oates.

The redevelopment work at Hartsdown Park is scheduled to begin in February. It should be completed in time for Margate to return in the summer.