Boss Andy Hessenthaler is demanding more from his team ahead of a big midweek challenge. Defeats at Deal Town and Margate in the last two pre-season games have left Hessenthaler with much to think about in terms of team shape and an eventual best XI.
The door’s wide open at present and next up at Crabble tonight (Wednesday) is a match against Brighton & Hove Albion’s under-23s.
Hessenthaler said: “You are trying to get players fit, trying to get minutes into their legs, as well as wanting to get the best shape for the group of players we have got.
That is what we have to find and we will find that come the start of the season. “There are always times in games when you have to be flexible in shapes, but we need to nail one, work with that, find the best 11 and the best 11 after Saturday I wouldn’t know because we didn’t do enough. “I said to them pre-season is for fitness but it is also to get into the team and after Saturday they have quite a lot of work to do.” Dover lost 2-0 to Margate, missing Lee Martin because of suspension and George Wilkinson and Reece Grant through illness.