ISTHMIAN North title-chasing Aveley, who lost top spot to Canvey Island in midweek when the Gulls beat AFC Sudbury 3-0, face another test of their promotion credentials against a former boss when Brentwood Town visit Parkside today.

Brentwood, managed by Rod Stringer, currently sit in the final play-off spot and arrive on the back of an unbeaten eight match run stretching back to November which includes five successive wins in their last outings.

Grays, whose recent form has been hit and miss, should be in a confident mindset going to bottom club Romford but after some inconsistent displays Blues fans will be taking nothing for granted.

Tilbury are another side going through a sticky patch and they will not find things easy at Great Wakering Rovers where former East Thurrock boss John Coventry is reshaping the Rovers squad.

They only lost at Brentwood last week to an injury time goal and there is a little added spice to the match as Coventry will be up against Dockers manager Keith Rowland. The two worked together for the past two seasons at Aveley.

Coventry's long time former side, East Thurrock United, are on a spiraling run of bad form in the Isthmian Premier and face a daunting trip to promotion-chasing Bishops Stortford today, where several former Rocks are now helping the home side mount a sustained challenge and they go into the match in fourth, while Rocks are second from bottom and with a very leaky defence that will not relish facing a team that scored five on its last outing.