Notts County travel to Ebbsfleet on Saturday for their first game of a busy bank holiday weekend.
The trip to Kent is quickly followed up with another game on Monday as they play host to Chorley, giving the Magpies the opportunity to pick up six points in 48 hours.
Last weekend’s draw with Wrexham came five days after Notts’ first win of the season, meaning they will look to go three matches unbeaten when they travel to the Kuflink Stadium.
Ebbslfeet, on the other hand, are still awaiting their first points of the campaign, having lost all five of their matches.
They currently prop up the Vanarama National League table after going ahead at leaders Solihull Moors last weekend only to surrender their advantage and slip to a late defeat.
Notts boss Neal Ardley says…
“When you think things are going well, you have a different challenge thrown at you.
“It’s the physical teams that we need to match and Ebbsfleet will certainly give us that kind of test on Saturday.
“It’s difficult when you haven’t picked up any points but they’ve been unlucky in some of their games.
“They’re a strong and powerful team and it will click I’m sure. I just hope it doesn’t on Saturday."
Ebbsfleet boss Garry Hill says…
“We’re not a team that belongs at the bottom.
“As soon as we get a result, I think we’ll move on and go in the right direction – I’m pretty confident of that.
“It’s been a hard start on paper when you look at the table and see where Solihull, AFC Fylde, Bromley, Yeovil and Halifax are.
“That doesn’t make you feel any better because there are no easy games, but we have got punished for our own lack of concentration and that’s how football goes.”
Team news
Ardley says Jim O’Brien, Nathan Tyson and Sam Osborne have shaken off the knocks that restricted them to a place on the bench against Wrexham and all three will hope for a place in the starting line-up.
Kristian Dennis will be looking for his third goal in as many games if selected, while Zoumana Bakayogo will be competing with Damien McCrory to regain his position on the left side of defence.
Ebbsfleet have brought in 14 new players since the end of last season and Hill says they are still taking time to gel.
One of those new additions is Alex Lawless, who is expected to return from injury to bolster the home side’s midfield.
Head to head
The sides have met twice in FA Cup matches in the past, both of which were while Ebbsfleet were playing under their old name, Gravesend and Northfleet.
Notts won 2-1 in each fixture, with the first taking place in 2000 and the second three years later.
The officials
Referee: Gary Parsons
Assistants: Robert Evans and Shelby Elson
Fourth official: Rhys Battye