Manager Steve King believes weekend results could impact how his Deal side and Challenge Cup Semi-Final opponents Erith Town approach their final-four fixtures.

King’s Hoops are scheduled to host fellow promotion-chasing Southern Counties East Premier Division side Erith Town next Tuesday in the first game of a two-legged affair.

But, before then, Deal have a huge rearranged FA Vase last-16 match at Bridgwater United this Saturday while Adam Woodward’s Erith Town team will face Division 1 Larkfield & New Hythe in the Kent Senior Trophy Semi-Final.

King, whose Deal side will host Hollands & Blair tonight in the league, said: “Blair is our focus at the minute.

“That’s going to be a tough game. They took points off Corinthian a couple of weeks ago.

“They have a new manager (Luke Jessup) and people seem to be playing for him.

“But we should have everyone fully fit after 10 days off.

Deal find out potential FA Vase Quarter-Final opponents

“The result on Saturday might influence how we go about the Semi-Final.

“Obviously, if we get through, that just adds to our fixtures. But if we get knocked out, that becomes a really big opportunity.

“Woody (Woodward) at Erith has a lot of games, as well. They’re in the Kent Senior Trophy Semi-Final this weekend and want to get into the play-offs.

“For both of us, the results at the weekend could influence our approach. But we will worry about that when we need to.”

Deal had been scheduled to take the long journey to Bridgwater last weekend - only for the surface to fail a pitch inspection, prior to the visitors setting off the day before.

King said: “There’s not much you can do, is there?

“We knew it was starting to look bad from Thursday.

“At least Bridgwater did the right thing - unlike Corsham last year! We managed to cancel our hotel and will go again next week.

“It’s frustrating but we cannot control the weather and - after the disaster we had last year with Corsham, costing the club nearly £10,000 - we’re just pleased that Bridgwater were sensible.

“As a club, we had hotels we could cancel up to the day before. It’s not cost us - other than another bit of fixture congestion.”

With the Hoops also going for the league title, King admits fixture congestion will be their biggest concern during a frantic end to the season.

He said: “It’s going to be our biggest barrier between now and the end of the season: The amount of games we have got to play. There’s nothing you can do about it.

“I can sit here and whine about it - but it can be a good thing, getting in the momentum of playing, playing, playing. The biggest concern is injuries.”

Goalkeeper Henry Newcombe and midfielder Jack Hanson will be out for the rest of this season due to injury while big striker Connor Coyne is getting first-team football with Kent County League Premier Division leaders Hawkinge.

He said: “We have dual-registered him with Hawkinge - the same with Liam Hark.

“The thing with someone like Connor is he needs to play. He’s not always the first substitute on.

“I’m sure we will need him before now and the end of the season, so we have got him out. Hawkinge are flying in the Kent County League Premier Division. All the forwards are fit at the minute - but we know that can change.”

The victors of Deal’s FA Vase tie with Bridgwater United have been drawn away to Hallam or Lincoln United at the Quarter-Final stage.