Festive fixtures against struggling Hayes & Yeading offer Ebbsfleet United a good chance to put real distance between themselves and the relegation dogfight heading into 2012.

Since winning promotion back into Blue Square Bet Premier, Fleet have acquitted themselves well and despite a 4-3 defeat at Grimsby on Saturday, they sit seven points and five places above the drop zone.

With Hayes & Yeading occupying the final relegation place ahead of their Boxing Day visit to Stonebridge Road, the double-header could prove pivotal to Ebbsfleet’s hopes of preserving their place in the division.

Liam Daish’s side visit Kingfield, Woking – where Hayes & Yeading groundshare – for the return game on New Year’s Day.

A run of six league games without a win places even greater onus on the Fleet to see off the Middlesex side, a point not lost on their manager.

"They are two big games and I want to win both of them," Daish said. "We got ourselves a little bit of a breather but we’ve got to be winning one in three and we’re not at the moment. We’ve got to up the ante a bit.

"They’re all winnable games but we’ve got to make sure we’re better in all departments, regarding defending, taking responsibility and cutting out silly mistakes."

Skipper Paul Lorraine should be back for the home game on Monday, having missed the Grimsby trip to stay with his partner and newborn child.

Kick-off for the Boxing Day fixture has been brought forward to 1pm.