Manager Jay Saunders admits Maidstone's disappointing start to the campaign has wiped out the optimism which surrounded the club on the eve of the season.

Saunders (pictured), however, insists his side have to respond to their back-to-back Ryman League, Division 1 South defeats against Whitehawk and Whitstable with a positive return from their bank holiday weekend double-header at Crawley Down on Saturday and against landlords Sittingbourne on Tuesday night.

"It is a disappointing start, there’s no getting away from that but we have to go again," said Saunders.

"The positivity that we had last week has gone but the good thing about this stage of the season is that the games come thick and fast and we have a chance to get it out of our system. Hopefully, that will be on Saturday."

Saunders has again ruled himself out of making any contribution on the pitch this weekend because of a calf strain.

But otherwise the manager has a full squad available and he will be hoping that remains the case for Tuesday night when Maidstone clash with a Sittingbourne side who have made a good start to their campaign with four points from two matches.