Folkestone get back to league business for the first time in a fortnight when they entertain Brightlingsea Regent at the Fullicks Stadium on Saturday.

And they’ll face the Essex side who lined up surely the biggest game in their history which will take former Football League side Torquay United to their little ground on the coast in the third qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup in a few weeks’ time.

But The Rs are currently bottom of the form table with just one win and four points from their seven league fixtures so far – that win coming on the first day of the season when much fancied but so far underperforming Kingstonian were beaten 3-2 at St George’s Park, home of Corinthian Casuals where the Ks currently groundshare.

Manager Neil Cugley says that Brightingsea are the kind of side that Folkestone need to beat if they are to be considered genuine play-off contenders.

Invicta are one of currently fifth in the table but only a point below second-placed Worthing while Tonbridge remain five points clear at the top of the table.

“They (Regents) really are the kind team we should be beating, especially at home” said Neil who will give reliable standby keeper Nick Shaw his league debut for the season as first choice Tim Roberts is getting married on Saturday.

“Nick wasn’t at fault for any of the goals last night” said Cugs following Tuesday’s 4-1 friendly defeat to a lively young Gillingham side.

“He’s a smashing lad who never complains about being on the bench and has a good record when we’ve had to call him into the team.”

Also missing is likely to be midfielder Sam Hasler who has had further tests for a digestive problem.

“He’s a little better but he’s lost a fair bit of weight and there was not too much of him in the first place” said Neil.

“He may be okay to go on the bench and perhaps give us 20 minutes if we need him, but it’s an ongoing situation that we are having to cope with.”

Striker Ade Yusuff is confident of a return after a shoulder injury in the League Cup win at Ashford while Kieron McCann played for most of the Gillingham game despite a chest infection and is expected to play at least some part this weekend.

“We’ve not really got going in the league yet” said the manager. “We’ve got some difficult games in October starting at Hornchurch next Tuesday.

Folkestone are also away again a week on Saturday when they visit Kingstonian at Tolworth.