Dartford could be forced to name a fifth captain of the season this Saturday.

Ben Greenhalgh’s Isthmian Premier Darts hit the road as they play at Aveley before a trip to Lewes on Tuesday.

An encouraging start to the season has come despite skipper Ben Swift and vice-captain Joe Tennent having been sidelined since the end of August.

That left Sam Odaudu with the armband but he has struggled with injury of late - pulling out in the warm-up for the second time in three games ahead of last weekend’s 3-2 FA Trophy home triumph over divisional rivals Three Bridges - which left fellow defender George Whitefield in charge on the pitch.

But Whitefield will be suspended for the game at Aveley, which leaves player-boss Greenhalgh with an unusual headache this weekend.

Ashdon Day, Tyler Ibe, George Brooke and Louie Atkins got the goals in a midweek 4-1 Kent Senior Cup success over a Bromley XI while defender Tennent captained the club.

Greenhalgh, who saw defender Vladimir Paternoster break the deadlock against Three Bridges, having only come into the team in place of Odaudu, said: “I don’t think I have ever been involved at a football club, looking at Saturday’s game, when you don’t have your captain, your vice-captain, your vice-vice-captain and your vice-vice-vice captain.

“We will have a conversation about who will have the armband. Losing Ben Swift, Joe Tennent and Sam is always going to be a test.

“We lost Sam last week (ahead of a 2-1 loss at AFC Whyteleafe) but he played last Tuesday (during a 3-0 defeat at Brentwood) and had quite a light session on Thursday.

“But as soon as he went back in on Saturday, we almost had a laugh about it! There have been moments in games where we’ve been lacking experience.

"The real positive is people are stepping up when they need to step up. Vlad was the one who came in.

"He got the ball in the net and he’s done well.”

Greenhalgh, now 34, is probably one of the remaining players with the best captaincy credentials. He was skipper at former club Margate but has been reluctant to do it since he stepped into management.

“I don’t think I will do it,” he said.

“At Margate, I was club captain when [Andy] Drury left and then it was myself and Reece Prestedge in charge. But we made Sam Blackman club captain that summer.

“[Assistant manager] Adam Flanagan has said to me ‘Just do it! You’re the most experienced player on the pitch’.

“But we will have a couple of other leaders on the pitch. I’m sure we will work one out.

“Ben Swift is a few weeks away, Sam is a few weeks away and Adrian Gyamera is a few weeks away.

“But it’s up to the players currently playing to keep taking their opportunities.”

Dartford were 3-2 winners against Three Bridges for the second time this season in front of a 421-strong crowd in horrible conditions at Princes Park as they booked an FA Trophy second-round home tie against National League South side AFC Totton.

Greenhalgh reflected: “It was good to have a test of the first wet, windy and horrible game.

“We’re going to have to get used to that in the coming months. We spoke about taking our chances and, being 3-0 up after 50 minutes, that’s all we could ask for.

“There were then a couple of lapses in concentration on a wet pitch that gave them a bit of hope. The critical side is how much our defenders ended up being tested.

“But we came through it on the right side.”

While Paternoster opened the scoring, two-goal striker Max Fiddes again starred as he moved to 12 goals for the season.

“Ironically, I think eight of those goals have come in cup competitions,” said Greenhalgh. “He has definitely hit the ground running in the cup games.

“We know what Max offers, and his strengths and weaknesses. I can understand why other clubs have moved him on - but we’re trying to utilise his strengths.

“It’s down to us to keep working on those areas.

“On Saturday, his all-round play was brilliant. With him being slightly smaller, it’s about how he gets on the ball and we’re working on that.

“Ten of his goals have come in the six-yard box but I think his second goal was actually the best goal he has scored for us.”

This weekend’s match, meanwhile, sees Greenhalgh come up against a former team-mate. He played with 31-year-old striker Alex Akrofi at Maidstone and Tonbridge.

“I hope he does well in the game,” Greenhalgh added.

“He’s certainly young and energetic.

“But it’s down to us to take the positives from our last couple of games and pick up even more points.”