Jake Leberl expects Dover’s eagerly-anticipated derby to be a tight affair.

Whites, sitting in the Isthmian Premier play-off places as they target a National League South return at the first attempt, will visit leaders Dartford tomorrow (3pm) at the start of an Easter double-header when the stakes could hardly be higher.

Dover were 5-1 winners when the sides met at Crabble in September, but Ady Pennock’s troops have been a much-improved outfit since a 21-match unbeaten league streak that started in November.

“We had a fantastic result here against Dartford,” recalled Dover manager Leberl.

“Everything that left our feet went in that day. I remember feeling at the time they didn’t deserve to lose 5-1 - but they did. It’s going to be a tough game.

“You would think it’s going to be quite a tight game but it’s a nice game to be involved in at this stage of the season with all to play for.

“So many clubs’ seasons have finished.

Report: Dover 4-2 Hendon

Baptiste’s one last target this season

"We have got three games left and, hopefully, it ends well for us.”

Dover are on a four-game winning run as two-goal Luke Baptiste and midfielder Ryan Hanson, alongside an early own goal, led them to last weekend’s 4-2 home victory against Hendon.

It was a brace which took forward Baptiste to 20 goals for the campaign.

Leberl said: “Confidence is high for the front three.

“Why wouldn’t it be? They have scored a lot of goals.

“Baps deserves all the credit he gets. He works tremendously hard away from this football club.

“He has got himself stronger and, with Baps, I honestly think there’s even more to come.

“He has an incredible attitude, he’s a willing runner, a great worker and has a great mentality.

“It’s a pleasure to manage those types of boys.”

Both of Baptiste’s goals came from assists by midfielder Alfie Matthews.

“Alfie has unbelievable technical ability and vision,” said Leberl.

“I’m trying to encourage him to get further up the pitch and into those areas because that’s where he can really make the difference.

“The [first] assist for Baps was absolutely class [from a free-kick] - but that’s what Alfie has got. I honestly believe there’s more to come from Alfie as well.”

Dover club captain Mitch Walker, who hasn’t featured since November due to a knee problem, warmed up ahead of the Hendon match alongside fellow keepers Jordan Gillmore and Claudio Boakye-Sarfo, who played for Lydd in a 2-1 midweek loss at Whitstable.

But on Walker, Leberl revealed: “He hasn’t been in full training yet. He has only been in light training.

“He had a little bit of a reaction - I think that’s more to do with where he has been out for a while - and not necessarily his knee.

“I’m honestly not sure which way that’s going to go, but it’ll work itself out.”

After their trip to Princes Park, Whites will then welcome relegation-bound Hastings to Crabble for their last home league fixture of the regulation season (kick-off 3pm) on Easter Monday.

But Leberl warned: “They have had a really difficult season.

“But I need to remind the boys that, ultimately, we have lost the title by losing to sides that we shouldn’t lose to so you cannot take any game for granted.

“Every game is difficult and I don’t see Hastings being too different.”

Dover’s match against Hendon was played on the 20th anniversary of former Whites’ player Paul Sykes’ death, aged 28, while playing for Folkestone.

His family organised a Memorial Fundraiser for the Cardiac Risk in the Young charity on Saturday evening, with signed Dover Athletic, Folkestone Invicta and Margate shirts available for auction.