Jay Saunders completes a two-match touchline ban this weekend following a Football Association ruling.

The punishment follows the Maidstone player-manager being ordered from the dug-out in the 4-2 win at Merstham in February, having been on the substitutes’ bench that night.

He asked the FA to clarify whether the ban also prevented him playing, but secretary Darren Lovell was due to confirm the news yesterday (Thursday), after Saunders had left himself out of the side on Monday.

Maidstone’s 1-0 win at Corinthian Casuals keeps them firmly in the chase with Worthing and Godalming for the one remaining Ryman League Division 1 South play-off place and Saunders rates the home game against Chipstead on Saturday as "massive."

So does he think they deserve a place in the end-of-season shake-up? Saunders (pictured) said: "I thought we would be good enough to get there at the start of the season and have been in the top five for most of it.

"We should have cemented our place already but have thrown away too many points. It’s a massive game against Chipstead, they are having their best season at this level."

Saunders has no injury problems but news from the FA will be key to his weekend’s selection plans.