Recharged AFC Telford will avoid shocks

But results against less-fancied sides such as Ebbsfleet will be just as vital in deciding their fortunes this season, Telford keeper Ryan Young believes.

The Bucks will go into tonight's home clash 13 places and eight points above their Kent-based opponents, albeit after just 16 games.

Andy Sinton's side have so far defied the pre-season odds, which made them among the favourites for relegation, by leaping into the top ten.

Almost as impressive is the fact that in six encounters against former Football League sides, only Grimsby have beaten Sinton's part-time outfit.

Victories over play-off contenders Luton and Dartford, and narrow defeats to fellow high-fliers Grimsby and Forest Green, have done little to dampen rising expectation levels among some sections of the Bucks faithful.

But Young has admitted the 'favourites' tag has been one he and his team-mates have not always worn all that comfortably.

And the veteran shotstopper said handling the weight of expectation against the mid and lower-placed sides will play a big role in where they ultimately finish this season.

"The 'big games' look after themselves," he said. "There's no pressure to get a result but games like tonight's are where people expect you to pick up three points or not lose.

"Sometimes that is where we have struggled, but it is learning curve and we have just got to learn to work even harder against those sides."

Indeed Ebbsfleet recorded wins home and away against the Bucks last season on their way to a 14th-placed finish – six places above the Bucks.

But favourites or not, Young is under no illusions about the challenge Liam Daish's side will present this evening.

Ebbsfleet have already suffered twice as many defeats in the league as Telford – eight – and have won just once in the league on their travels.

But they appear to have steadied the ship, having won two and drawn one of their last three games in all competitions prior to Saturday's spirited 4-2 defeat at League One outfit Carlisle in the FA Cup first round.

Young said: "We know what a good side they are. They are definitely in a false position. They haven't had the greatest of starts but are slowly getting back to where they were (last season) .

"They are also coming off a high in the FA Cup. They lost but they put a good performance in."

Telford have though benefitted from their 10-day break from competitive football following their elimination from the FA Cup in the fourth qualifying round.

Right-back Will Salmon is expected to come back into contention while other injured players – Richard Davies (calf), Darren Byfield (hamstring) and Nathan Rooney (foot) – have returned to training but are unlikely to be involved.

Ebbsfleet have no fresh injury worries and are expected to field a side largely unchanged from Saturday's Cup exploits.