Matt Smart is lining himself up a perfect birthday present.

The Horsham skipper turns 25 next Saturday and is targeting that day's game with Hemel Hempstead for his long-awaited return from injury.

Smart has had to delay his comeback from medial ligament damage.

He admitted: "The injury seems to be worse than first thought.

"It's still weak, although I went for a run before the Lewes game on Monday and it did not feel too bad."

Smart missed last Saturday's 6-1 home thrashing by Berkhamsted but does not see that result as terminal to Horsham's promotion ambitions.

He said: "That was a bad result for us but all the top sides seem to be losing at the moment so it is not all over for us yet in terms of promotion.

"We've still got the Associate Members semi-final and that is very important for us.

"Whenever you get to a semi you have to take it seriously."

Smart will wait with interest as the Ryman League debate the fixture backlog headache on Monday.

He said: "The sensible thing would be for them to extend the season."