MAIDSTONE United’s limited first team squad will come under pressure this week at Stones face three important home games in eight days.

They entertain Thamesmead Town at Central Park in the Go Travel Kent League on Saturday (3pm), host Greenwich on Tuesday night (7.45pm) and begin their FA Vase campaign against Sussex County League side Sidlesham the following Saturday.

Player of the year Jamie Kempster is ruled out of both league matches but has set the Vase game as the target for his return from a knee injury while Pedro Knight is also extremely doubtful for the visit Thamesmead after injuring his ankle at work.

The two players who would have replaced them, Richard Chainey and Liam McCabe, both limped off in Stones Reserves’ 3-1 win at Chatham in midweek.

Their absence means Ward will have to dip deeper into the second team to fill his bench and Adam Hewitson, Tom Abbot and Dean Wallington are in the frame as well as veteran defender Dave Scott and reserve team player/manager Terry Cordice.