Ebbsfleet striker Ben May is battling to be fit for the start of The Skrill South season.

The centre-forward injured his back at work and has missed Fleet’s last two pre-season friendlies.

May watched Tuesday’s 3-1 home win over Erith & Belvedere from the stands and Fleet boss Steve Brown admitted the former Dover man could still be sidelined when Havant & Waterlooville arrive for the league opener on August 17.

Brown said: “He’s not going to be ready for training on Thursday and won’t play Saturday. With a couple more visits to the specialist, I’m hoping his back will ease up and he can train next week.

“I can’t honestly put a time scale on it. I’m wary of the fact that we may go into the season without Ben May. It’s 50-50 at the moment."

Brown’s problem is who he should play alongside Billy Bricknell, after May’s ex-Dover strike partner scored twice on Tuesday to take his recent tally to five goals in four games.

Anthony Cook, a winger by trade, partnered Bricknell against the Deres and scored his first Fleet goal, while Stevenage loanee Michael Thalassitis was away on international duty with Cyprus under-21s.