Dulwich Hamlet will be hoping to maintain their Indian Sign over their Kentish opponents when they make the long trip to the Kent coast today.

There they take on an Invicta side hovering just outside the playoff berths after a perfect start to 2013. Having thrice beaten Invicta last term, including a 2-1 victory at Champion Hill that ended Folkestone’s promotion dreams at the semi-final stage of the playoffs, already the men in Pink and Blue hold the upper hand in this season’s encounters courtesy of a 2-0 triumph at Champion Hill in front of a 400+ crowd. That afternoon the hero of the hour and a half was the diminutive Erhun Öztümer bagging a brace, mimicking Ray “Razor” Powell’s play off double that had done for Invicta some 6 months previous.

Prior to the last campaign Dulwich had not registered a win, nor garnered a goal in league encounters with Tony Houghton’s consolation in 3-1 home reverse in a 2003 FA Cup tie the sole time a Hamlet man had found the back of the opposition net in these clashes. With a couple of defeats and a pair of scoreless stalemates, the Hamlet were itching for revenge when Folkestone dropped back into the South Division after a disastrous sojourn in the Premier. In 2011/12 they were paired together no fewer than three times – including that famous night in the play-off semi-final with Dulwich emerging triumphant in all three - 5-2 at Champion Hill, 3-1 at Cheriton Road and then 2-1 on St Razor’s Night.

Top of the table at the time of their last visit to Champion Hill, and though that Öztümer-inspired defeat failed to knock previously unbeaten Folkestone from their perch, a miserable run of results in the wake of that reverse saw Neil Cugley’s men slump into the bottom half of the table. However the run was arrested with a 3-1 home victory over struggling Three Bridges, a result that awakened a spark in Invicta hearts. Since that win Folkestone have been turned over just the once and that by the odd goal in three in front of a four figure crowd at deadly local rivals Hythe Town on Boxing Day. All this despite the loss of much vaunted striker Stuart King, a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside a football shirt, snapped up by title favourites Maidstone United for a bargain bucket ten grand. Against Three Bridges King had snaffled his second hat trick of the season, making it seven in five games for the former Herne Bay forward. It took his club tally to an eye watering forty-four in forty-seven starts – thirty-nine of them in the league – and set him on course to retain the Ryman League ‘golden boot’ award. Speaking to the local press Cugley expressed surprise that his phone failed to ring which must alerted the Stones who swiftly made their move.

Cugley quickly boosted his squad with the signing of striker Dane Luchford who was previously with Faversham, Horsham and Whitstable and has also turned out for Kent Invicta League leaders Phoenix Sports recently. Luchford – who impressed on his debut in a 1-0 win at Faversham – seems a shoe in for his home debut. Invicta may also have the versatile utility man Shane Hamshare in their squad after he joined the squad for training on Tuesday night will the Folkestone number one hoping he will be available at the weekend. Hamshare could prove a major plus for the team as he is able to play in defence or midfield and pops up with the odd goal or two, judging on past performance clubs such as Dover Athletic, Faversham and Whitstable.

Though Gavin Rose will be without both Luke Hickey and Ellis Green this weekend after the pair picked up suspensions, the former for his dismissal at Worthing, the latter for accumulated bookings, he can look to Tuesday’s demolition of Corinthian-Casuals for relief. Left-back Ahmed Deen put in a good shift for an hour after returning from a leg fracture suffered against the same opponents whilst centre-half Josh Turner came through 90 minutes unscathed. With Rose picking up right back Tom Skelton from Sittingbourne recently he was happy to report, “We are getting much closer to a settled back four and fully fit first team now.

“After the problems we had having enough fit defenders, it is a relief to have a fully fit squad again.”

Also putting in a strong shift that night was Rose's number two, Junior Kadi, so any thoughts Folkestone’s midfield might have had of a quiet day at the office with Hickey side-lined can now be put to bed!

This afternoon's game takes place at the Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone, directions to the ground can be found by clicking here. For those travelling by train, the nearest station is Folkestone West though Central station is more convenient for the fleshpots of Folkestone and is within walkable distance of the ground. There is an hourly service from London Bridge leaving at 19 minutes past the hour, taking approximately 90 minutes to reach Folkestone Central.

Admission Prices:

• Ground admission: £9
• Seniors: £5
• Younger Supporters 5-16: £2
• Entrance to the ground for supporters aged under five is free.