Chris Kinnear admits there will be no secrets between the sides when Dover welcome Maidstone for the first of two Kent derbies within a week.

Dover take on Maidstone at Crabble on Boxing Day (3pm)with the return at the Gallagher on New Year’s Day (6pm).

Stones boss Jay Saunders played under Kinnear at Margate, while Kinnear can call upon former United players Mitch Pinnock, Joe Healy and Jack Parkinson. James Rogers and Tom Murphy are now on the books at Maidstone – although neither are expected to feature on Monday.

Kinnear said: “There should be a big crowd and it should be a good occasion. Both teams will know plenty about one another – Jay played under me for seven or eight years so he’ll know all about me.

“We want six points from the two games. They are fighting for points down there but we are fighting for points for our own reasons.”

It will be the first time Dover’s ex-Stones trio have faced their former club since arriving at Crabble over the past 16 months.

Parkinson, 27 swapped the Gallagher for Crabble in August 2015 to end a successful spell on the pitch as well as in his role as head coach of Stones Academy.

He admitted: “As a player it is nice to play in derby games and games with big crowds. I am looking forward to it.

“I have no grudges with Maidstone – there’s no bad feeling there. I have still got some good mates there, I am good friends with Jay Saunders and was even in the crowd when they won the play-off final last season.

“The supporters have always been great with me and it will be nice to see some old faces but it’s just another game for me.”

He added: “They are having a tough time at the minute but they are an ambitious club and Jay’s done an incredible job.”

Dover are a place and a point below the play-off places and Parkinson said: “This is a game we need to win – it feels like we have been sixth forever. We went on a run of three or four wins and each time we checked the table we hadn’t moved.”

Parkinson has been pressed into a midfield role in the past three games, having played as centre-back and sweeper for the opening three months of the season before spending a four-game spell on the bench during which he played a total of just 29 minutes.

He said: “I’m not a good sub. I get frustrated as I always want to be playing. I just want to be on the pitch. When I am I just do as I’m told. I’ll play anywhere, I’d even do a job at left-back if I’m asked.”