The optimism following Chester FC's 1-0 triumph over Macclesfield Town on Saturday has been tempered slightly following the loss to Torquay in midweek.
Macc looked like a side who were maybe not as good as their league position and unbeaten run had suggested. The Gulls, on the other hand, looked a side cut out to succeed in this division. They had all the necessary qualities that would suggest that their stay in the top tier of non-league football may be a brief one.
But the Blues have the chance to get some points on the board when they make the trip to Woking this weekend, another side who may not be quite as fearsome as their third-place standing and unbeaten start to the Vanarama Conference may suggest.
They have yet to play any of the other top six yet this season, although they have registered some impressive victories already, winning at Wrexham, beating Lincoln City and thumping Dover Athletic 6-1 on August 25.
Cards manager Garry Hill is an experienced campaigner in non-league football and has a history of putting out strong, difficult to beat sides, as evidenced by his successful stint as manager of Dagenham & Redbridge in the early 2000s.
Steve Burr's charges will head to the Kingfield Stadium in patchy form, with the new-look squad that the Blues boss has assembled still bedding in. But, having finally demonstrated their ability to grind out a result and keep a clean sheet, they certainly have a chance of claiming at least a share of the spoils from their trip to Surrey.
We take a look at where the key battle grounds could lie in the Blues bid for victory.
Scott Rendell v Kieran Charnock
Woking striker Rendell has been a revelation so far this season. Despite having had more clubs than Rory McIlroy, Rendell has an enviable goalscoring record, which has seen him be a prolific striker at Cambridge United, Torquay United and Wycombe Wanderers in past seasons.
He has netted seven times in eight games already this season and has proved himself to be one of the most deadly finishers in the league, something which the Blues are, sadly, currently lacking.
A tall, strong forward, 27-year-old Rendell has the ability to cause major headaches for defenders and does not need a second invitation to find the back of the net if given the opportunity.
Charnock has had a mixed start to the season. The opening day drubbing at the hands of Barnet has been written off now, consigned to the annals of history. But the defence has had their fair share of shaky moments since then this campaign.
But last Saturday Charnock showed why Burr rates him so highly and why he was a former England C international with a host of Football League appearances under his belt.
He was a rock against Macclesfield alongside Michael Kay, winning every header mopping up danger with relative ease. He deserved his man-of-the-match accolade.
In Rendell, however, he will have to be at the very top of his game as strikers don't come much better in the Conference. The key to stopping Woking will be stopping Rendell.
Joe McNerney v Craig Hobson
Hobson has started to become a bit of a fans favourite in recent weeks. His work ethic and ability to get in front of his marker to hold the ball up are his biggest assets.
Not a natural goalscorer, Hobson has netted twice this season and looks very much to be a confidence player, with boss Burr saying that the tall striker needs to have more belief in himself in the final third.
And well he should. Hobson has a definite role to play in this current Blues side, but he needs an appropriate foil. If the likes of Jadan Hall, John Rooney and Sean McConville can feed off the big striker then the 4-2-3-1 formation that Burr has employed in recent games could yet work.
In McNerney, however, Hobson will face a tough customer. The imposing figure of the powerful McNerney, 24, gives the Cards backline a solid basis from which to work from and Hobson will face a physical battle this weekend.
If the Blues are to be successful in their efforts to claim three points, the role Hobson plays in making sure they play sticks in the final third will be key. If he is allowed to be bullied out of the game by McNerney then Chester's attacking endeavours could well fall flat.
But Hobson was excellent last weekend against a solid Macclesfield backline, although, despite his best efforts, he was snuffed out of the game against the experience of the Gulls on Tuesday.
If Hobson can start well, find that belief and the Blues play to his strengths, he could prove a key figure in a blue and white success.
Chris Arthur v Ben Heneghan
Left winger Arthur joined the Cards on an initial one-month loan deal from League Two side AFC Wimbledon last month but has had his stay extended until the new year after impressing for Hills men.
A direct winger with quick feet and pace to burn, Arthur has been a key figure in Woking's strong start, providing an attacking outlet that has helped to supply the ammunition to Rendell, Guiseppe Sole and Dean Morgan, with the latter two having netted four times apiece this campaign.
The former QPR youngster, 24, joined AFC Wimbledon last summer after impressing for Havant & Waterlooville of the Conference South. He will be a player that will give young defender Heneghan plenty to think about during the 90 minutes.
Heneghan has been impressive since joining the club from Stoke City last month, showing maturity beyond his years and a great deal of potential that suggest he could prove to be a real asset for the Blues moving forward.
Despite his tall, wiry frame, Henegan, 20, who only made his first senior appearance this season, has shone at right back in recent games, although his size would appear to lend itself to that of a central defender, a position he can also play.
He has shown composure on the ball, excellent timing and a willingness to go forward and support the Blues attack, something which Burr and his assistant Jon McCarthy have said they are keen for their full-backs to do.
If Heneghan can stifle the threat of Arthur then it cuts off one of the supply channels to the red-hot Woking forward line and gives the Blues a platform on which to build.
Heneghan certainly has the ability and is improving as a footballer with each passing game. I would back the Manchester-born defender to do the business again on Saturday.
