Ebbsfleet midfielder Dean Rance knows exactly what this weekend's derby means to the people of Maidstone - because he lives there.

Rance will be central to the Fleet's game plan on Saturday, patrolling in front of his back-four and helping turn defence into attack for the National League South leaders.

With a big crowd expected at Stonebridge Road, there is more than just league points at stake and the significance isn't lost on the 24-year-old former Gillingham and Dover man.

Rance said: "I’m from Maidstone so I know quite a few of them down there.

"They get over 2,000 every week and if they could have more, they would. It’s quite big around Maidstone and there’s a few people speaking in my ear about Saturday already.

"It’s a local derby so the fans all talk amongst each other and it’s bragging rights for them.

"I prefer it when there’s a big crowd. Both teams, when the crowds are big, whether it’s Maidstone or Ebbsfleet, it makes it more of an atmosphere and it’s more enjoyable to play.

"They’re bringing 800 fans so they’ll create an atmosphere for their lot but we’ve just got to concentrate on our own jobs and not get too carried away with it being a derby."

Fleet are nine points clear at the top of the table and Rance, now in his third season at the club, has started nine of their 11 league games so far.

He said: "We’re up there to be shot at but that’s to be expected if you’re top of the league.

"People are going to come here and want to beat us, to get one over on us. It’s a free shot for a lot of teams, they come here and they’ve got nothing to lose.

"We expect that, we know that and we’ve got the experience to deal with it.

"I think Maidstone might sit back a little bit more than if they were at their own place but nothing changes for us. We’ll approach it exactly as we have every game this season and hopefully we’ll come away with three points.

"We’re all excited for the game on Saturday. It’ll be a big crowd and we’re all looking forward to it.