Faversham Town manager Ray Turner says seeing his side line-up against title-chasing Hastings United on Saturday will be a good barometer of their own promotion credentials this season.

The Lilywhites were beaten play-off finalists last season while the east Sussex side dropped down from the Ryman League, Premier Division.

Both have already signalled their intent to challenge for a top-five finish, with United dropping just two points from their opening six games and Town winning four and drawing one of their last five games in all competitions.

Turner said: “Hastings were standout candidates to go back up before the season began and they are living up to their billing.

“They have won a lot of games but they have been mostly narrow wins. It will be a great test for us.”

He added: “A win would put us right up there in the top five or six. We seem to get up there in the table late every year – it would be nice if we could get up there a bit earlier this year and see where we are compared to these other teams.

“Once you get some positive momentum, the easier it gets to keep it going.”

Saturday’s 5-1 preliminary round win over division rivals Worthing at Salters Lane was Town’s biggest ever FA Cup victory and secured a first qualifying round trip to Cray Wanderers on Sunday, September 15.

The Ryman League, Premier Division side have conceded 26 goals in six games, including seven in a loss to Wealdstone on Saturday and Turner said: “It’s a good tie for us but it’s easy to look at scorelines. As a team, we have never come out on top against a team from that level.”

Jamie Maxted serves the final game of his ban at Salters Lane on Saturday while Luke Harvey is absent and James Peacock and Renford Tenyue have back problems. Aaron Lacy’s suspension begins at Redhill on Tuesday.