By Craig Tucker and Steve Tervet

All eyes will be on Stuart Lewis when Maidstone go to Ebbsfleet.

Lewis swapped Fleet for United after falling out of favour at Stonebridge Road last season.

He turned a loan move into a permanent switch this summer but will be back at his old club for the first midweek game of the National League season tonight.

Midfielder Lewis was the reigning supporters’ player-of-the-year at Fleet when he joined Maidstone’s survival battle in January.

Such was his impact at the Gallagher, he won the same award from Stones fans for three months’ work.

He anticipates a warm welcome from the Fleet crowd but is fiercely committed to Maidstone.

Lewis said: “I’m a winner. How I play and how I am as a person, I want to win.

“We’ll be going there and personally I’ll be going there wanting to win and giving everything to win but I had a good time at Ebbsfleet as well.

“I had a good rapport with the supporters and I’m sure it’ll be a positive reception towards me but as soon as I step over the line, that’ll be put aside and I want to play well for Maidstone and pick up the points for them.”

The last time the sides met, Lewis was on the losing Ebbsfleet team in the National South play-off final as United triumphed on penalties.

It seemed almost inevitable they would meet early-season following Ebbsfleet’s promotion.

Lewis said: “I was looking out for that fixture.

“To play them early will be a good game, if a little bit strange because the last time the teams played each other, I was playing for Ebbsfleet.

“They’ve made some good signings, they’ll be strong and a good test but I believe we’ve made some good signings as well and we can really attack the first little part of the season."

Lewis' Maidstone loan came at the perfect time with the 29-year-old out of the picture at Fleet.

He was an instant hit at the Gallagher as Jay Saunders' side pulled clear of trouble.

Lewis said: "Things change in football. The Ebbsfleet manager had his decision to make and he made it. That’s football.

"I had a good time there, won the player-of-the-year award.

"People make decisions and have opinions in football and as a player, you have to accept that and move on with your future. That’s what I did.

"I’ve got to thank Jay Saunders because he gave me the opportunity to play at a higher level.

"I had a good time there and excelled under how he managed the team.

"It was a really positive four or five months for me.

"He brought out a real freedom in my play and a positive attitude. He let the reins go. It was a good spell."

As for proving a point tonight, Lewis added: "It will be something I want to do but the Ebbsfleet fans and management know what I can offer to a game and I’ll be trying to do that again."