Dartford player-boss Ben Greenhalgh aims to utilise home advantage ahead of FA Cup second qualifying round tie against Hayes & Yeading at Princes Park

Player-boss Ben Greenhalgh wants Dartford to utilise home advantage ahead of this Saturday’s FA Cup tie.

The third-placed Darts, already flying high in the early Isthmian Premier table, are preparing to welcome Hayes & Yeading United to Princes Park.

Hayes are 17th in Isthmian South Central, having played just four league games.

Dartford progressed to the second qualifying round after defeating Westfield 2-0 at home in a replay last midweek, three days on from a 1-1 away draw.

Playmaker Greenhalgh admits the Darts struggled to adapt to Isthmian South Central Westfield’s surface - and has urged them to get the job done at the first attempt this time.

“They’re always difficult draws when you play teams in the league below,” said Greenhalgh, with £3,375 in prize money up for grabs for the winners.

“They have got nothing to lose - and you’ve got everything to lose. But the positive for us is getting a home draw.

“When we went to Westfield in the last round, they played their pitch really well, and we didn’t play it as well.

“That’s why we need to use our pitch as a strength.”

While it’s been a largely encouraging start to the campaign for Dartford, their weekend visitors - led by Jamie Tompkins - have played four league games and six cup matches to date.

Greenhalgh said: “It’s a strange time of the year. Hayes & Yeading are finding that.

“For us, it’s good to have got eight league games on the board already. In Isthmian South East, some sides have only played two or three league games.

“It makes it a difficult time to read where you are, doesn’t it?”

The Darts delivered a statement of intent with last weekend’s 3-0 triumph at fellow high-fliers Carshalton as midfielder Jez Pinder and Greenhalgh saw their first-half efforts