Daryl McMahon insists Ebbsfleet are mentally ready for another play-off campaign if their title bid finally ends this weekend.

Fleet go to Maidenhead on Saturday needing to beat the leaders and hope the Magpies slip up against relegated Margate on the final day.

The odds are stacked against McMahon’s side but the 33-year-old is upbeat about what the next few weeks may hold.

He said: "Whatever happens, having gone through it for two years myself, I think we’re in a position now where we’ve got everything to gain rather than everything to lose.

"That’s been a different mindset of this team this season. It’s a mentally stronger team this year than we had last year – and it’s a better team.

"The points tally tells you that and the goals and the goals against.

"We look forward to the run-in, the last two games and if it is the play-offs, we’ll be ready to attack that as well."

Ebbsfleet’s 18-match unbeaten run since the turn of the year has lifted them to 90 points – a total which would have seen them crowned champions in any of the previous 12 seasons since the formation of Conference South.

McMahon said: "I’ve played in this league for a few years and managed in it for two and I can’t remember two teams having over 90 points.

"Both sides have had terrific seasons and hopefully we can go there, put a performance
on and see where we end up after that. I’m ever so proud of what the players have done. They’ve been outstanding and we can’t lose sight of that.

"We’ve put together a fantastic run, played some great stuff and scored some fantastic goals.

"Whatever will be, will be. We have to make sure we perform and to get 90 points with two games to go is fantastic."

It’s a year since Sutton pipped Ebbsfleet to the title, catching McMahon’s side on the finishing line after they’d spent seven months at the top.

This season, Fleet have done the chasing but Maidenhead’s excellence looks to have consigned them to the play-offs for the third time in four years.

McMahon said: "It’s a different mentality for us going into the play-offs this year.

"Looking back on the play-offs last year, I probably didn’t notice it because it was my first time doing it but it was difficult to get the team off the floor, to get to the play-off final, and the way that happened (losing to Maidstone on penalties) was a double blow for us.

"This year is different. We haven’t been in the situation we were last year and yet we’ve been far better."