Ahead of this afternoon’s home clash with Hythe Town, we spoke to Whitehawk manager Shaun Saunders as he hopes to end this day three points richer. Discussing his thoughts mere hours before kick-off, Saunders said: “We’ve got a buzz about us. We’re at home again, I’m looking forward to the game, to the day…we all are.”

With the Hawks still yet to lose in the league all season, the mood in the dressing room must be one of a jovial nature, right? “Yeah, it is! We’ve got great team spirit and it’s something that we’re proud of and something that we want to take in as far as we can so yeah, we’re enjoying the run, and looking forward to the games as they come now, thick and fast”, Saunders replied.

Winning five of the six league matches at home, The Enclosed Ground is swiftly becoming a fortress. Was this one of your main priorities when you took over last April? “Yeah, I said that to the side we had last year and the new side this year, we don’t lose here. I think it’s key, our home form is massive. I don’t want anyone coming to Whitehawk thinking it’s going to be happy days. We’ve done really well, we’re playing really well at home and the support, I have to say, I keep on about it but here, it’s massive. It’s the twelfth man at home, and it can be intimidating for clubs. The way the supporters get behind the team is a massive shot in the arm for us.”

And as for today’s opponents, Hythe, what sort of threat will they pose today? “They’ll be a big side, physical and very competitive. I think their league position is a false one. They’ll probably be disappointed in where they are in the league but again, for me, they’ll be well-organised, they’ll be a big, strong side, they’ll be direct and it’ll be physical so yeah, it’ll be a tough afternoon I feel – it’s not going to be one of the easier ones this season for sure”, Saunders added.