Neil Cugley says picking up wins is more important than staying unbeaten when Folkestone begin the new Bostik Premier season this weekend.

Invicta travel to Enfield on Saturday (3pm) with Merstham set to visit the Fullicks on Tuesday (7.45pm) as the games come thick and fast.

Cugley said: “I’m a big one for winning games rather than trying to stay unbeaten. I’d rather win one and lose one than draw two. We’re not going to stay unbeaten all season are we?

“We have a tough last month so what I don’t want is to go into the last few weeks needing to pick up points. We want to do it earlier this season.”

Top scorer Joe Taylor and midfielder Micheal Everitt are likely to miss both games but Cugley is hoping to sign a loan defender in time to feature, allowing versatile Kwebs Osei to move forward into Everitt’s midfield role.

Taylor is expected to miss both games with a knee problem sustained in pre-season while Everitt could be sidelined for at least a fortnight after picking up a groin strain in Saturday’s final friendly against Thamesmead, although Jordan Wright returns to the squad.

Cugley said: “The games come thick and fast early in the season so we can’t risk rushing anyone back too soon.

“I’m hopeful of getting someone in but these things take time and it was not helped by the fact his club picked up some injuries at the weekend.

“We only have a small squad and we can’t absorb too many injuries so it’s a shame we have to start the season like this.”