Manager Andy Drury believes Margate’s next two league matches will be good tests of their credentials.

Gate visit Lewes this Saturday in Isthmian Premier before hosting early high-fliers Hornchurch the following weekend.

“The longer we are unbeaten, the higher we go in the league,” said Drury, whose side sit 11th.

“For me, it’s about ‘Can we get close to the play-offs?’

“We are just getting people up to speed and, hopefully, they are not too far away now. The next couple of games will be a good indicator of where we are.

“Hornchurch were in the play-offs last year and Lewes were just outside. So we will see if we can get in and around it.”

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Tony Russell’s Lewes have had a mixed start to the campaign but Margate’s boss is well aware of the threat they will pose.

But Margate, having beaten Canvey Island 2-0 last Saturday - despite a Sam Blackman red card - which followed a 1-0 victory away to Corinthian-Casuals last Tuesday through Ben Greenhalgh’s penalty, are unbeaten in three in the league.

Lewes won 4-2 at Enfield at the weekend having been beaten 4-1 last Tuesday at Herne Bay.

Drury said: “They will always play the same way. They have been up and down this season but, on their day, they are one of the best teams in the league.

“We will have to play well to get a result. But we will be confident, there’s a good camaraderie among the lads.

“The pressure will be on Lewes to get a result and the same against Hornchurch.

"But for us, it’s a good opportunity to get another couple of results.”

Goals for Korrey Henry and captain Greenhalgh were enough to earn Margate victory against Canvey, although Blackman was dismissed for a second booking.

Drury said: “Sam has made two fouls.

"The first one is probably a yellow and, for the second one, he tried to pull out but their player’s made a bit of a meal of it.

“Some referees will understand and others maybe won’t. But it evened out quite quickly (an away player was also sent off soon after) so maybe he realised he was a bit harsh on Sam.”

Striker Henry has already struck five times for Gate since joining the club last month.

“Korrey's made it two in five in the league now,” Drury said.

“He’s probably not far off full fitness, we always knew he would not be at his best (yet).

"But he’s a good player at this level.”

With a large tree falling through Corinthian-Casuals’ clubhouse, the Tolworth club have had to play their matches away from home and Margate faced a wait last week to find out where the fixture was to be played. It was held at the home of Leatherhead in the end.

Gate have recently brought in keeper Daniel Jinadu and he has kept back-to-back clean sheets.

Drury said: “Dan came in for the Billericay game and made a couple of good saves.

“Corinthian-Casuals was a good away performance from us.

"It could have been more than it was but we will take the 1-0 win.”

Midfielder Blackman will serve a one-match ban when they visit Lewes.