Maidstone boss Jay Saunders was a kid on the terraces the last time United played Gillingham.

Saunders, who celebrated his 39th birthday yesterday, used to watch the Football League derbies as a young Stones fan.

Years later, he's in the Stones dugout for what will be the first competitive meeting since a 1-1 draw in the old Division 4 in 1992.

Saunders knows tonight's Kent Senior Cup quarter-final at the Gallagher Stadium won't be like the old days, when a packed Priestfield saw Maidstone win 2-1 on Boxing Day 1989, or a year later when Lawrence Osborne's stunning volley clinched a 2-0 win for the Stones.

But with both clubs set to name strong sides, he's hopeful an expected crowd of about 1,500 will see a decent game.

Saunders said: "They were always good games, the atmosphere was always good, it was always one you looked forward to.

"It's a weird one isn't it because I think a lot of the youth nowadays don't really know what it was like back in the day.

"They never saw it, and they won't really get an idea because I don't think it'll be a sell-out, so they won't know that rivalry but it's one we can look forward to.

"It's a cup we'd like to have a go at this year but it's a tough draw.

"I've heard rumours they're going to go pretty strong.

"To be honest, we'll be pretty strong because we haven't got a big enough squad to rest seven or eight.

"For supporters, you'd rather they came down strong.

"Whatever side they bring down will be a good test.

"If they bring young lads they've got good youth there that will want to impress the first-team gaffer."

Gillingham have been the county's only Football League club since Maidstone went bust on the eve of the 1992-93 season.

But with four ambitious Kent sides in the National League, Saunders can see that changing.

He said: "If you look at the way it's going with Dover, Bromley, us and Ebbsfleet, there's going to be teams in and around them in the Football League which would be good for Kent because they've been the only side there for a long time."