Whites will be aiming to show the same spirit on Saturday as they did in the second half of their last league match at Bromley.
A sublime strike from Mitch Brundle and an injury-time Kane Richards header saw Chris Kinnear’s men battle back from a two-goal deficit at the break to earn a point.
And Athletic, currently on a four-match winless run in the National League, will be looking to complete a league double over a Hartlepool United side visiting Crabble for the first time.
But one of Craig Harrison’s squad will be very familiar with his surroundings.
Midfielder Nicky Deverdics featured 79 times for Dover over two spells, scoring 18 goals.
HARTEPOOL’S RECENT FORM
HARTLEPOOL 1-2 MACCLESFIELD
John Askey’s men completed an impressive late comeback to win at Victoria Park on Saturday.
The visitors were behind thanks to Michael Woods effort, but strikes in the last five minutes from Ryan Lloyd and Keith Lowe handed Town maximum points.
Woods popped up six minutes before the break to put the hosts ahead and home stopper Scott Loach pulled off a great save to deny Mitch Hancox an equaliser.
Loach also stopped efforts from Scott Burgess, but was finally beaten on 85 minutes when Lloyd turned in Elliot Durrell’s pinpoint cross.
And Lowe struck in stoppage time to win the match for Macc.
PREVIOUS MEETING
5/8/17 – HARTLEPOOL 0-1 WHITES
Jamie Allen’s first half strike stunned Hartlepool as Dover won 1-0 at a sodden Victoria Park.
The Summer signing from Southport turned and fired into the bottom corner on 28 minutes as Dover won their opening National League fixture of the season at the fourth attempt.
Whites goalscorer showed a glimpse of what was to come early on, running clear of the home defence and squaring for Nortei Nortey to shoot, but the midfielder’s skewed effort failed to reach the target.
But Athletic were ahead on 29 minutes.
Brundle’s corner was initally cleared to Femi Ilesanmi and the defender’s first-time ball back into the box was fired home by livewire Allen.
The lead should have been doubled minutes later as Ryan Bird thundered a header the wrong side of the post from Josh Passley’s cross.
And the monkey hangers came close to finding an equaliser late on.
Connor Newton created space for himself to shoot from just inside the box, but Walker was able to catch his effort with a diving save.
TICKET NEWS
Prices are as follows:
Adults – £17
Over 60’s – £14
Under 18’s – £8
Under 11’s (With an accompanying adult) – Free
Please note the match will be segregated
COVERAGE
The game starts at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens!
Coverage starts from 2pm.
SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES
MACCLESFIELD TOWN V WREXHAM
ALDERSHOT TOWN V FC HALIFAX TOWN
BARROW V DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE
BOREHAM WOOD V AFC FYLDE
CHESTER V SOLIHULL MOORS
EASTLEIGH V BROMLEY
EBBSFLEET UNITED V GUISELEY
GATESHEAD V WOKING
LEYTON ORIENT V SUTTON UNITED
MAIDENHEAD UNITED V MAIDSTONE UNITED
TRANMERE ROVERS V TORQUAY UNITED
AWAY TRAVEL
There is a coach travelling to Wrexham on Saturday 23rd December and it’s not too late to book a seat on it.
Prices are as follows:
Adult members £30, adult non-members £45 and accompanied child (Under 16) £15
And there is also a coach travelling to Maidstone on Monday 1st January.
The costs are: Adult members £12, Adult non-members £25 and accompanied child (Under 16) £6.
Please call or text Andy on 0793 4300335 to book your seat, or see him in the Centre Spot after the match against Hartlepool.
Please note you are now required to pay for your seat in advance by cash or via bank transfer.