Lewes have released two players as they look to balance the squad.

The recent signings of brothers Tommy Fraser and James Fraser, coupled with the return to fitness of Gary Elphick and Jack Walder, left the Rooks with a larger squad than needed.

Manager Garry Wilson has now decided to part company with Phil Appiah and Dean Lovegrove.

Appiah could join Hampton and Richmond while Lovegrove is set to sign for Chipstead where former Worthing boss Simon Colbran took over as manager this week.

Elphick made his return from surgery on a broken wrist in Monday’s 3-0 defeat at Kingstonian and skipper Jack Walder made a second comeback from a fractured ankle suffered last season in the same match.

Luke Blewden (thigh) is ruled out of today’s visit of play-off chasing East Thurrock while Tommy Fraser is rated only 50-50 to recover from the groin injury which ruled him out of the Kingstonian game. Josh Marshall (thigh) is still sidelined while Alex Malins will continue his recovery from a long-term knee injury in the under-21s.

Malins made a substitute appearance in the Sussex Senior Cup defeat of Eastbourne Borough ten days ago but is still a way off a return to regular first team action, according to assistant boss Danny Bloor.

The Rooks are still talking to South Park striker Chris Smith about a possible switch to the Dripping Pan.

Bloor is pleased Lewes are back home tomorrow. He said: “So far in 2015 we have had six league games, five of them away from home and four of those against top ten sides. It has been a really tough league start to the year for us.”

Sam Crabb has been handed a one-match suspension following his red card at Kingstonian while Tom Davis has a two-match ban looming, both starting on February 9.