Jude MACDONALD has admitted his side are targeting at least a play-off place at the end of the season.

Whitehawk currently sit third in the table, six points off the leaders Ashford but have two games in hand.

Hastings in second sit on level points with Ashford but have two games in hand also so Macdonald admitted they are the favourites for the title.

He said: “It is Hastings’ to lose, to be honest.

“At the start of the season our target was the play-offs and we need to win half of our remaining games to guarantee that place in the play-offs.

“However, if Hastings slip up, we want to be the ones ready to pounce and not Ashford. We want to win all 11 games left, but we know that it is difficult.

“If at the end of the season we win the title then amazing, if we get a play-off place then so be it. We are going to take it one game at a time.”

Whitehawk saw their trip to Burgess Hill postponed last weekend due to a waterlogged pitch and instead on Tuesday they had a friendly against Dorking and Macdonald explained why that was.

He said: “We had it over Christmas where we had four called off on the trot after winning six.

“Then when we got back into action against Haywards Heath, we looked like we hadn’t played for three months and were leggy.

“The friendly was just to keep the boys ticking over, as soon as our game with Burgess Hill was called off, I got onto the phone to Mark and got it organised.”

The Hawks host Three Bridges, who are a place above the relegation zone, but Macdonald is expecting a tough battle.

He said: “Not too dissimilar to East Grinstead in that it will be a fight as they are struggling down there.

“If they can win their games in hand, they catch East Grinstead so it will be another tough battle.”

Macdonald confirmed that his side have a few knocks and niggles at the moment with Connor Tighe (hip), Henry Muggeridge (back) and Ryle Ovenden (ankle).

He does not expect them not to be involved in the squad.