Scott Porter says his Whitstable Town side will need no extra motivation when they play Herne Bay on Saturday in the Bostik South East.

It is the first time the two sides have met since Whitstable were promoted from the Southern Counties East, Premier Division last season.

Herne Bay are bottom of the league after a poor season where they have won just once in 14 games.

Manager Porter said: “It will be a massive game. The league table goes out the window for these local derby games.

“It is a derby I have not experienced before and it is one I am up for.

“I talked about this game after the defeat to Horsham on Saturday. We have put that behind us now and the players know what is in front of them now and what is at stake.

“We have to keep our heads and know there is a job to do on the pitch.”

Whitstable had six first team players out in the 4-0 defeat at Horsham on Saturday and it was their heaviest league defeat of the campaign.

They have lost their last two games but both teams were in the top five.

Porter said: “It was always going to be tough as we had six players out. They were six first team players and to go away from home against an inform team was always a tough ask.

“We were okay in the first half but then in the second we gave away two poor goals and you can’t do that at any level of football.

“I was not too hard on the players after the game.”

Porter believes his side will be a different prospect with those players back in the starting 11 and was pleased with how his new signings, Michael Jenner and Sam Welch, have fitted in.

He added: “We will hopefully have four of those players back this week. It gives us the back bone through our side and we will be strong for Saturday.

"The two lads who have come in have not had a lot of football but they have fitted in well to the team and I’m confident they can bring a lot to the squad."