Worcester City manager Richard Dryden believes his team are more than capable of knocking Dover Athletic off their Blue Square South perch on Saturday (3pm).

The Kent coast club, only promoted to the division in the summer, are currently riding the crest of a wave at the top of the league.

By contrast, City are sitting in the bottom three and have only won once in the league all season.

But Dryden has confidence in his team and will point to the way they raised their game to beat AFC Wimbledon 3-2 when the Dons were top dogs almost a year to the day.

City may be eight points worse off this time around but Dover have only won two of their five away matches and the manager is relishing the challenge.

Dryden said: “I think the quality is there to beat teams and we saw against Dorchester, Basingstoke and Staines that we can dominate for long periods.

“Then the other Worcester City turns up, like in the game against Thurrock. We have got to raise our game tomorrow.

“I want us to come out of the traps flying and, when we’ve got the ball, we will be getting the crosses in.

“It’s going to be a hard game and they are a top side with a good fan-base. They are the ones to be shot at along with Newport.

“It’s a good game for us and I am looking forward to it.”

Both sides tasted success against lower-ranked opposition in the FA Cup last weekend with City seeing off Bourne Town 3-0 and Dover demolishing East Preston 8-0.

Midfielder Rob Davies and striker Marco Adaggio both came off the bench to grab goals at St George’s Lane last weekend and are set to be involved again.

Centre-half Wayne Daniel has returned to training after an Achilles problem and could come back into the reckoning.

Fellow defender Shabir Khan should be fit after being replaced as a precaution against Bourne but left-back Alfie Carter is nursing a knock.

Midfielder Jordan Fitzpatrick also damaged his knee during training on Monday and is rated a doubt to feature on Saturday.

City, though, look set to be boosted by the news Dover top-scorer Adam Birchall is a doubt with a hamstring injury.

First-choice keeper Lee Hook will return in place of John Whitehouse.

The Whites are managed by former Gillingham midfielder Andy Hessenthaler, who locked horns with the City boss during their playing days.

“It’s one of the worst memories I had in my career,” Dryden admitted. “I was on loan at Stoke City and we were playing Gillingham in the semi-final of the old Division Two play-offs.

“We were 3-1 up, cruising and he stuck one in from 35 yards for 3-2. We went to their place and ended up losing on penalties.

“He was a great professional and kept himself really fit to play for as long as he did. He’s doing a good job as a manager.”