Dean Rance says there is a different feel about Ebbsfleet this season as they bid to reach a third play-off final in four years.

Rance, the longest-serving player at the club, felt the Fleet's double pain in 2015/16 as they lost the title to Sutton before tasting defeat to Maidstone in the play-off final.

And as Daryl McMahon's side take a 2-1 lead into the second leg of their semi-final against Hampton & Richmond on Sunday, Rance believes they're wiser for the experience.

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"We’ve learned a lot," he said. "We’ve been through a lot over the last 24 months so we’re only going to be mentally stronger.

"We know what to expect, we know what these games can be like, we know they can be cagey, we know we can be up against it for 10 minutes and that you’ve just got to stick in there. When you get your chance, make sure you take it.

"We’re mentally a lot stronger, as you could see when we played Maidenhead away (coming from behind to win 2-1). You learn a lot and it’s only helped since Christmas - the way we’ve been together, a similar squad, similar team so we’re a lot stronger this year.

"This season feels a lot different to last season. The squad’s a lot stronger and I feel we’re better prepared for what’s to come.

"We let it slip last year and we’re eager not to let that happen again. We go into Sunday and we’ll make sure we get the job done."

Maidenhead won the National League South title with 98 points, just two more than Ebbsfleet.

Rance said: "It’s never been in our hands. We’ve always been chasing. It’s less of a blow than it was last year because it was in our hands and we let it go ourselves.

"This year, it’s always been for us to gain, not for us to lose.

"We’ve done what we had to do, plugged away and it’s helped us because we’ve now got the momentum going into the play-offs.

"They say form goes out of the window (in the play-offs) but I don’t agree with that because if you’re unbeaten in 21 games, you’re only going to be confident."

Confident - but not complacent.

Rance said: "We were in this position last season. Against Whitehawk we had a goal lead and probably should have gone back with a bigger lead and that went to penalties so we know what can happen.

"We’re more equipped this season than we were last season and we’ll probably go out attacking, look for the early goal and go for the win at our place instead of trying to defend."

Sunday's second leg at Stonebridge Road kicks off at 3pm.