By Alex Hoad

Maidstone boss Jay Saunders says his side are at a disadvantage in Ryman League Division 1 South due to the number of derbies they face on their schedule.

The festive games are among the most popular on the calendar but Saunders says the hype and atmosphere make those matches more difficult to win and send the formbook out of the window.

The Stones have already lost at Whitstable, Faversham and Folkestone this season.

Maidstone ended a run of five straight defeats with victory against Corinthian Casuals on Boxing Day and face back-to-back derbies in the space of three days when they host Whitstable tomorrow (Saturday, 3pm) and then take on landlords Sittingbourne in the Bourne Park derby on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm).

Saunders (pictured) said: "Now we’ve got that win, I want maximum points from the next two games. It won’t be easy, derby games never are. There’s a lot of hard work in a derby, the league table almost goes out of the window.

"You’ve got players on both sides who know each other and want to put one over on each other. Bognor and Dulwich have got an advantage over the rest of us challenging for promotion.

"I’ve never been involved with a league with so many derbies as this. It’s a great leveller and it means it is harder for a team like us."

Top scorer Shaun Welford returns from suspension but midfielder Alex Flisher will serve a one-match ban against the Oystermen.

Saunders himself is seeing a specialist about a hip problem he sustained at Folkestone three weeks ago. Goalkeeper Daren Hawkes’ loan spell from Gillingham is up after the Whitstable game, while Charlie Mitten’s recovery from a hip injury has suffered a setback and Saunders may have to find new keeper cover.