Maidstone won’t settle for National League survival – they want to finish in the top 10.

That’s the target set by manager Jay Saunders before the opening game at home to York on Saturday (12.15pm), live on BT Sport.

A sell-out crowd of almost 3,000 is expected at the Gallagher as promoted Stones take on a full-time City side who are down from League 2.

That’s followed by a trip to Aldershot on Tuesday night (7.45pm) for a meeting of the last two Football League clubs to go bust.

Saunders said: “I want to go for the top 10 and that’s what I’ve told the players. If we can do that it would be an unbelievable achievement.

“I know it’s going to be very, very tough and that people will go ‘let’s just stay up’ but I’m ambitious as a manager, the players and the staff are ambitious, so we’ll be aiming for the top 10.

“There’s going to be games where we’re up against teams who are full-time professional clubs and at times we’re going to find it hard.

“We’re a club that’s used to winning and at times that’s not going to happen but I genuinely think we’ll be OK.

“We’ve got players capable of playing at this level. Time will tell whether they all are but we’ve got a group of lads that work hard and never know when they’re beaten.”

Alex Flisher (knee) and Jay May (calf) are fit to face York, so Stones have no injury worries.

Don't miss your five-page Stones season preview in Friday's Kent Messenger.