An injury crisis has crippled Maidstone United ahead of their biggest game of the season.

The visit of Dulwich Hamlet to the Gallagher Stadium on Saturday pits third against second in the Ryman League Premier Division, with the faltering Stones looking to keep their play-off hopes alive after three straight defeats.

But only four senior players were fit enough to train on Tuesday night, so long is the queue for the United treatment room.

Strikers Frannie Collin and Zac Attwood are both out of the clash, as are long-term injury victims Steve Watt and Orlando Smith. Graeme Andrews missed last weekend’s trip to Leiston through illness while Jack Harris and Rory Hill have also been unwell this week.

Jack Parkinson is suspended and Kaiyne Woolery was this week recalled from his loan spell by parent club Tamworth, so things couldn’t be much tougher for manager Jay Saunders, who’s hoping a cortisone injection will get Michael Phillips through the game.

Saunders said: "I don’t think people realise the luck we’ve had with injuries. When we were flying earlier in the season, we had a settled side but it’s frustrating at the moment."

Maidstone remain in the top-five but their position is looking increasingly fragile, and with Dulwich also coming into the game on the back of three straight losses it could be a nervy afternoon at the Gallagher.

Harris is likely to start up front in the absence of Collin and Attwood, having returned from his loan spell at Faversham Town.

Full story in the Kent Messenger.