By Alex Hoad

Maidstone boss Peter Nott has admitted his side are in a Ryman League Premier Division relegation fight and expects the battle to go to the final day of the season.

After a 3-0 humbling at leaders Dartford last Saturday and a 2-1 reverse at in-form Tonbridge on Tuesday, Maidstone now lie one place and three points above the bottom four.

Three of the sides below them could close the gap still further by winning their game in hand over the Stones.

Nott (pictured) said: "We are well and truly in a dog-fight and will need to show character in every game. I believe it will go down to the final day of the season."

Nott reiterated the need to improve his side’s home form, as five of their last eight games will be at Homelands.

He said: "The pitch has become more playable which suits us. We have produced a couple of results at home lately and we’ll need to do that again before the end of the season."

Stones host play-off chasing Wealdstone on Saturday before welcoming basement-boys Bognor to Homelands on Tuesday.

Dean Rance will be out for the rest of the season after suffering a knee ligament injury at Tonbridge while Jermaine Darlington’s knee problem means he can only play once a week and he will be assessed before Saturday.

Danny Hockton (dead leg) and Craig Stone (ankle) should be fit to return after missing Thursday night’s Kent Senior Cup quarter-final at Folkestone.