Hastings face another tough match in the Dr Martens premier division when they host last season's runners-up Tamworth.

George Wakeling will be without three-goal striker Ellis Remy who came off the bench in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Chelmsford City and suffered a repeat of his hamstring injury.

Paul Ruddy, who has been out with a groin injury since the start of the season, resumed training this week and could be on the bench.

Wakeling is still trying to bolster his strike force by bringing in a forward to replace Paul Jones who left in the summer.

Tamworth are a tough propersition and they are likely to have former Leicester stalwart Steve Walsh in their side following an ill-fated spell back in the First Division with Coventry.

City's player-manager Gary McAllister invited Walsh to train but promptly dropped him after he had an appalling game in Coventry's 5-2 defeat at Watford.

Nevertheless, Hastings skipper Tony Burt is anticipating a tough match.

He said: "We are quietly confident. We have made a solid start to the season and if you offered us 15 points from ten games at the start of the season we all would have taken that.

"If we finish in the top ten then that's going to be a good season for us.

"We have done well to keep a lot of clean sheets. We needed that as a good base to build on so now we can concentrate on creating more chances and turning some of our draws into wins."

Second-placed Eastbourne Borough face a tricky test at Ashford in the eastern division but manager Garry Wilson expects to have defender Stuart Tuck available following a knee injury.

Ashford, currently fourth, have former Hastings striker Lee McRobert in their squad.

The match kicks off a big week for the Priory Lane side with Dorchester Town visiting on Tuesday and an away FA Cup tiue at AFC Wallingfordon Saturday.