Ebbsfleet’s two most experienced players believe they could challenge for promotion to the Football League this season.

Danny Kedwell and Aaron McLean, who both signed new deals this week, have been there and done it before.

Kedwell captained AFC Wimbledon to glory in 2010-11, scoring the winning penalty against Luton to send the Dons into the League.

And each of McLean’s three full seasons in the Conference saw him reach the play-offs, including the 2003-04 final with Aldershot.

Kedwell said: "To get that highlight of scoring the winning goal, that will never get taken away from me. I want to do that again with Ebbsfleet.

"They were on the verge of not being a club, they got taken over and they deserve it. There’s so much potential and they’re doing it the right way.

"We’ve got the team to be in and around it. There’s no point going into the league saying ‘let’s just make sure we’re safe’ because I don’t think we’ll be in that situation.

"I think we’ll be more at the top end than we would down the bottom because we’ve got a quality team."

McLean’s form in the Conference with Grays earned him a move to Peterborough, where he won back-to-back promotions as Posh climbed from League 2 to the Championship.

He’s always believed Fleet can do something similar.

McLean said: "We’re definitely not there to make up the numbers.

"The manager’s put in place a great group of lads that all know how to play the way that he wants us to play and we all work hard for each other.

"With the experience of a few of the older ones helping to see out games and knowing how to win games, I think it’s going to be a productive season for us.

"Hopefully, at the end of it, we’re getting another promotion."

Most players in the Fleet squad have already played at this level or higher.

Kedwell said: "With the players we had last year and some of the players we’re adding, that league will suit us more in terms of the way we play.

"It’s going to be a good season and I’m looking forward to it."

McLean added: "The standard’s a lot better. More teams are going to get the ball down and play football.

"They’re all men in that league. There’s a lot of ex-professionals and a lot of lads that have played at a high level.

"It’s going to be down to the older ones to help the younger ones and guide them.

"With the ability we’ve got in the squad, I don’t see it being a problem for us."