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Wrexham are hoping it’s Dover and out when the Kent club visit North Wales on Saturday.
The Dragons have failed to beat their Southern rivals in seven attempts, but know they dare not lose this Vanarama National Conference clash at the Racecourse (3pm).
Manager Dean Keates and his Wrexham team are third in the table, two points behind leaders Macclesfield and Sutton United, while Dover chasing hard in fourth place.
“It will be a tough game,” said Keates. “Dover put teams under a lot of pressure, get a lot of balls into the box, are direct and play a man-to-man marking style all over the park.
“It is a different challenge for my staff and I to prepare for.
“They have a way of operating and it is hard to come up against.
“We are evolving, we are going to improve and we are going to have blips. We’ve had blips and reacted, we had a reaction from them all, so all being well we can get another reaction on Saturday.”
Wrexham, who have passed the halfway mark in their season, have suffered consecutive defeats against Macclesfield in the Conference and Harrogate in FA Trophy action.
The Dragons went down 1-0 at the Crabble during August and they badly need to return to winning ways.
Midfield player Sam Wedgbury is expected back for the home team, while Dover will give Ejiro Okosieme a late fitness test.
Captain Shaun Pearson and leading scorer Chris Holroyd were among the players rested from the FA Trophy tie against Harrogate.
Wedgbury was close to fitness, but Keates opted not to take risk it.
“The rest will do the lads good ready for Dover,” said Wedgbury. “That is our priority is.”
Wrexham follow the match against Dover by playing back-to-back away games against Barrow on Boxing Day and Gateshead next Saturday. They then have a fourth fixture in 10 days, against Barrow at home on New Year;s Day.
“We want to stay up there and keep winning games,” says Wedgbury. “Teams coming here when we have our strongest team out they will be fearing us more than we fear them, especially with the crowd behind us.
“We have a busy schedule and we have set out targets of what we want to come out of Christmas with ready for January.
“Hopefully, one or two new faces can freshen us and give players here a little rest as well come January, we have got a great chance.”
New signing Ferdinand Takyi, a big German-born striker, is keen to be involved again and says: “Our priority is the league.
“There is always the ambition of scoring goals to impress. That is my main goal and from there we will see how it continues.”
Akin Wright, a 21-year-old signed on loan from Fleetwood until January, has made 15 appearances for Wrexham and says: “It has been brilliant.
“The main factor for me is improving every game and I know I am at a club where I will get better.
“With a good fanbase like this, it is fantastic and I am really enjoying it.
“I can’t say a lot on that because it is the gaffer’s decision to keep me here or let me go.
“But I am happy to stay. I am committed to Wrexham 100 per cent and if I do stay I’m looking forward to going for promotion.”
Wrexham could go back to the top with a win, but only if Macclesfield lose at Bromley and Sutton United slip up against Tranmere Rovers at home.
