Boss Steven King insists Whitehawk are on course to achieve their No.1 goal for the season.

But the Hawks chief knows they have to start winning at home or they could end up being disappointed at the end of the campaign.

Whitehawk began the season targeting a place in the play-offs for the second year on the trot.

Full-time outfit Ebbsfleet United were always favourites to win the league with resources no other team in Vanarama National League south can match.

But King had outlined his hope of trying to emulate last season’s efforts when they lost in the play-off final to Bromley.

After losing 1-0 at home to Ebbsfleet on Monday, Hawks slipped down to seventh in the table, two places and two points off their play-off spots.

A win and a favourable set of results today when they host Eastbourne Borough could see Whitehawk climb back into the top five.

But winning at the Enclosed Ground has been a real issue of late.

Distracted by a run to the second round of the FA Cup, they have lost their last four league games at home – their last league win at home being when St Albans visited on October 3.

Hawks beat National League premier side Lincoln City in the first round of the FA Cup at the start of November but have lost their five subsequent games at home in all competitions.

That sequence has to be put into context as it includes higher league Dagenham and Dover in cup competitions, as well as Ebbsfleet.

But King still understands the need to get back to picking up three points at home – starting against a Borough side who converted a 94th-minute penalty to draw 1-1 in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day.

King told The Argus: “We need to start picking up some points and we need to start winning at home because our home form hasn’t been good of it.

“The FA Cup run took a lot out of the players. We played seven games in the Cup and every one was like a final to us.

“The injuries have not helped either as we don’t have a big squad.

“There are a lot of reasons but we are only two points outside the players and there are 60 points still to play for.

“The target was always to finish in the play-offs and we are in and around them. We put everything in to winning all our cup games whereas other teams perhaps haven’t but we are there or thereabouts. I’m happy with where we are.”

Jake Robinson misses today’s game due to a one-match suspension but Whitehawk welcome back Paul Lorraine from a hamstring injury plus on-loan left-back Craig Braham-Barrett, who was ineligible to play against parent club Ebbsfleet on Monday. Contracted French midfielder Stephane Ngamvoulou, who was made available on a free transfer, remains part of the squad while numbers are tight.

Meanwhile, young Crystal Palace goalkeeper David Gregory will make his debut for Eastbourne Borough after signing on a month’s loan.

Gregory, 21, will replace regular goalkeeper Lewis Carey who is ruled out by a one-match suspension following his red card at Truro City just before Christmas.

It will be the first game Carey has missed since signing for Borough in the summer of 2014.

Gregory is highly regarded at Palace and has already enjoyed successful loan spells at Sutton United and Bishop’s Stortford.

Borough boss Tommy Widdrington said: “David is a promising prospect and I am delighted to have him on board.

“We are especially grateful to Mark Bright at Palace for setting up this loan in a difficult time frame. David already has experience at this level and I am sure that all parties will benefit.”

Borough will also be without Craig Stone due to a one-match ban. Jack Evans is eligible to play but will begin a three-game suspension next weekend following his red card against Whitehawk on Boxing Day.

Borough go into the game without a win in their last four league matches and having slipped to 18th in the table, just three points above the relegation places.