Stones are desperate to win their FA Trophy qualifier at the first attempt.

They welcome Walton & Hersham to the Gallagher Stadium for a first qualifying round tie on Saturday, knowing a Tuesday night replay would hit preparations for their FA Cup game at Stevenage.

United have already postponed Monday’s Ryman League, Premier Division match at Billericay in order to concentrate on Stevenage and the last thing they need is another game.

Walton & Hersham spoiled Maidstone’s first competitive game at the Gallagher Stadium when they won 5-4 on the opening day of the 2012-13 season.

Boss Jay Saunders said: “We owe them one for that. They’re a Ryman South side but they normally have one or two players with pace and we’ll show them respect.

“We’ll make changes but not many. People like Alex Brown need minutes and I’m conscious of that because we’ve got James Rogers and Alex Flisher on four bookings, so one more and they’ll have a suspension coming up.”

Stones have seen a five-point lead at the top of the Ryman League, Premier Division eaten away by a Margate team who are now a point clear.

But Gate slipped to a shock 3-1 defeat at Enfield on Tuesday night and have played two games more than Maidstone.

The league remains the priority but Saunders is hopeful his decision to postpone the Billericay game will pay off in the FA Cup. He said: “We had to make a decision on Tuesday.

“We knew it could come back to haunt us because Margate could have been 10 points clear by the time we play another league game but the boys were buoyed by them dropping points."