Canvey Island look set to draw 1,000 plus crowds to Park Lane on each of the next two Saturdays.

On Saturday they host Essex rivals Billericay Town before hugely-supported Aldershot visit the Island in a week's time.

It's a real double bonanza for Gulls' followers who know that a six-point haul from the two matches could set them up nicely for a challenge on at least runners-up spot in their first season in the top flight.

Certainly such a points target will not be easy to achieve. Tomorrow Billericay, following their FA Umbro Trophy heroics, arrive at Canvey having pulled off their first League win since December 4 in beating Slough 3-1 last week.

Gulls themselves are really back on song after suffering a mini-slump following their Christmas success over runaway leaders Dagenham and Redbridge.

What is clear from both camps is that the sides have a healthy respect for each other and will certainly not be expecting an easy ride.

Said Billericay boss Gary Calder: "Jeff and coach Glenn Pennyfather have done a great job this season at Canvey and for them to be in the top four in their first season as a Premier club is a tremendous feat."

Billericay may be down in 11th spot at the moment, but that does not fool King, who watched the New Lodge side in last week's win over Slough as his own match at Purfleet was postponed.

He said: "Billericay enjoyed some tremendous results in the Trophy and to beat Conference opposition such as Hereford and then take Rushden and Diamonds to two games was a magnificent performance."

Despite this mutual admiration society, both camps will go into the proceedings thinking that they have the ammunition to gain all three points.

The visitors will be without utility man Lee Williams, who is suspended, while there are doubts over the fitness of striker Stafford Browne, out for two games with a hamstring problem.

Calder is hoping to have a new name involved in his line-up for the big match and it's odds-on that the signing, if it is made in time, will be a front-runner.

Gulls report a clean bill of health. The two sides fought out a goalless draw earlier in the season at New Lodge and a share of the spoils might well be the likeliest outcome again here. Certainly I'm too much of a coward to predict otherwise!

Jeff King - only too aware of Town's great Trophy run this term

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