GRAVESEND & Northfleet boss Andy Ford says tonight's top-of-the table away clash with Canvey Island isn't a title decider although he maintains the game is of huge importance.

The Fleet are currently five points behind their nearest rivals in the Ryman League Premier Division with a game in hand and many people believe if Jeff King's team come out on top at Park Lane it might signal the end of Gravesend's promotion hopes.

Ford disagrees: "We're looking forward to it but it's not a must-win game because no championship was ever won in January. If we get a point it would be a good result. We'll play our normal way. We have to close the Canvey players down quickly because we can't afford to let them play. It's a big game."

Canvey's preparations for this game haven't been ideal after they suffered a 4-1 beating at First Division high flyers Burnley in the FA Cup Third Round on Saturday. The defeat brought to an end the Essex club's 27-game unbeaten sequence, which stretched back to September, but Ford isn't reading too much into the result.

The Fleet manager said: "There wasn't much point in sending someone to Burnley because this is a different type of game. Canvey have had the best squad in the division for the past two years but we're proud of what we've achieved because we're making it a close division.

Gravesend have slight doubts over Nick Burton (dead leg), Eliot Martin (hamstring) and Paul Booth (knee) although all three are expected to be fit for selection.