Maidstone United boss Jay Saunders hopes his side can make the most of playing without the pressure of expectation as they bid to keep their play-off hunt alive in Ryman League, Division 1 South.

Stones visit Walton & Hersham on Saturday seeking a win against a side who had five victories in seven games before Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat at Hythe.

Having been widely tipped for promotion this season, Stones are now on the fringes of the play-off race and fell three points behind the final spot on Wednesday night when Folkestone beat Walton Casuals 1-0.

With five games remaining, this weekend could be key in the race for fifth as fourth-placed Worthing host Invicta and seventh-placed Godalming – who have a game in hand on their Kent rivals – visit title-chasing Whitehawk.

Saunders, pictured, said: "The pressure is off now and hopefully that will help us. It is out of our hands and nobody expects us to make it anymore. We’re the outsiders.

"We should just go out and try to enjoy playing without any pressure and see where we get in our final five games.

"We just have to worry about ourselves, it is a massive game on Saturday. It’s going to be tough but if we want to have any realistic ambitions of making the play-offs, then we must win."

Steve Northwood has signed on until the end of the season as back-up to keeper John Whitehouse after impressing Saunders in last week’s inter-squad game at Bearsted.