Glenn Driver believes today may be the ideal time to host a Billericay Town side that he feels could still gatecrash the Ryman Premier play-offs.

The Blues, who have scored 11 goals in their last two league games aim for a third win on the trot this afternoon against the Essex outfit, who were the subject of a successful takeover bid last month.

At the moment, today’s visitors to Victory Road are mid-table in the league and face a Blues side flying and currently sitting in the top five, but Driver believes the game will be far from easy.

“It’s going to be a tough game, they have made some new signings recently and I believe they could still gatecrash the play-offs, but maybe this could be a good time to play them, they won’t enjoy coming to Victory Road,” said Driver.

“They want to play Conference football and their new owner is shelling out some money, but I don’t worry about what they’re doing.

“I wish them all the best, apart from on Saturday.”

Driver has a fully-fit squad to choose from for today’s clash and has been boosted this week by Ipswich Town’s decision to let young goalkeeper Jacob Marsden stay with Leiston, on-loan, until the end of the season.

“We were keen to keep and it is going to be better for him playing here between now and the end of the season rather than staying at Ipswich and playing the odd under-23 game,” Driver explained.

“He has done really well for us and is progressing nicely. He is a level-headed guy who wants to improve and he is enjoying being at Leiston.”

At 20, Marsden is at the opposite end of the age scale, in football terms, to Gareth Heath (36), the veteran midfielder who scored his 100th league goal for the club in the recent victory over Needham Market.

“Heathy has been brilliant for us, and has been a father-figure towards some of the young lads, like Byron Lawrence and Ollie Brown, that have come through,” Driver enthused.

“He is nearly 37, but he has started every game for us and to score 100 goals in 250 games, I take my hat off to him.

“I think last season, Wilks (former boss Richard Wilkins) wanted him to play a more defensive role whereas we have got him breaking (forward) from midfield in our system.”