Preview: Dover Athletic vs. Notts County - prediction, team news, lineups

Notts County will look to strengthen their claim for a playoff place in the National League table on Tuesday, when they travel to take on basement side Dover Athletic.

The visitors currently sit in the final playoff spot with a five-point lead over the chasing pack, while their hosts are already relegated with a deduction meaning they sit without a point.

Match preview

Having failed to complete their fixtures last season, Dover Athletic began the new National League term with a 12-point deduction, and they have been unable to fight against the odds, winning just one of their opening 36 league matches.

The Whites finally managed to cancel out the deduction recently, as a 2-1 win away at Boreham Wood took them out of a minus points tally, but, with their fate already having been sealed previously, they have been unable to add any more positive results.

That victory was immediately followed by a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Woking, before Andy Hessenthaler's side put up a good fight away at promotion-chasing Chesterfield but ultimately left empty-handed.

Michael Gyasi drew Dover level early in the game, and Jake Goodman gave them a surprise away lead with 10 minutes to go, only for the fifth-placed side to immediately equalise and eventually go on to win thanks to Jeff King's goal.

While they again came away empty-handed, Hessenthaler's men will be pleased with their efforts and will now aim to, at least, finish the season on a high with a run of results to move off the zero points tally.

They face another difficult test, though, as Notts County arrive looking to take another huge step towards confirming a place in the playoffs.

While they have been off the pace for points of this season, the Nottinghamshire outfit have impressed recently to establish themselves as frontrunners to finish in the top seven, now heading into Tuesday's trip on the back of consecutive wins.

Ian Burchnall's side firstly thrashed King's Lynn Town 4-1, with Kyle Wootton, Cal Roberts, Aaron Nemane and Elisha Sam all getting on the scoresheet, before Wootton and Nemane again found the net alongside Ruben Rodrigues in a 3-1 defeat of Weymouth at the weekend.

That saw them move four points clear of eighth-placed Dagenham & Redbridge, with Tuesday's game in hand providing the chance to stretch that to seven points with just four matches remaining.

With a fifth-placed finish also being more beneficial in the race for promotion, Notts County will aim to put three points on the board with Chesterfield within touching distance.

Team News

Dover Athletic could remain without defender Junior Tiensia, who was absent last time out.

Winger Michael Gyasi has been a shining light since his loan move from King's Lynn Town, netting four goals in 12 appearances.

Notts County's attack will be led by Kyle Wootton, who netted his 18th league goal of the season last time out.

He could again be joined by Ruben Rodrigues, who has 16 goals to his name in the fifth tier this term.

Harry Arter was a statement signing in January, with the Nottingham Forest loanee bringing important quality and experience in midfield.

Dover Athletic possible starting lineup:

Andre; Judd, Goodman, Collinge, Ransom, Wood; Krasniqi, Woods, Wilkinson; Gyasi, Nikaj

Notts County possible starting lineup:

Jaros; Richardson, Graham, Rawlinson, Chicksen; Nemane, Palmer, Arter, Roberts; Rodrigues, Wootton

We say: Dover Athletic 0-3 Notts County

The visitors boast far more quality than their opponents, and with Dover already condemned to relegation, they should have more than enough to cruise home and take all three points.