Maidstone players are hitting the training ground early to give themselves the best chance of success.

A number of George Elokobi’s squad have been starting work at 7.45am - well before the main session.

Their efforts are paying off with Maidstone on a run of one defeat in nine matches in all competitions and climbing to seventh in National League South after thumping Worthing 4-0 at the weekend.

“As a management team we’re always here bright and early,” said Stones boss Elokobi, who takes his team to Winchester City in the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round this Saturday (3pm).

“We’re here to try and improve our players, to help them develop as much as we can.

“If you’ve got coaches that are willing to do that, as a player you’ve got to jump on it and seize the opportunity.

“You do those extras away from the main session and that’s how over time you get to develop.”

In-form strikers Levi Amantchi and Sol Wanjau-Smith are among those putting in extra work.

They’re on seven and six goals respectively and are bringing out the best in each other.

“They are in competition,” said Elokobi. “They’re out there working, they’re doing extra work and it’s important they keep doing that because when it comes to game day and they find themselves in those positions they’re taking up behind closed doors, it helps them stay calm and composed in their finishing.

“You always look at combinations.

“We’ve tried different partnerships in pre-season, we’ve worked on different shapes, and we knew going into game 10 or game 15, we’d definitely discover how the partnerships are looking in terms of our forwards.

“We’ve also got Ogo Obi that can come on or start a game for us and we need to find the right partnership for him as well.

“It’s about the entire squad. It’s not just the front two, it’s the other players around them and away from them.

“It’s the defensive unit, the goalkeepers, the midfielders and the wing-backs and it’s good to see these partnerships working.”

Maidstone are 10 games into their league campaign - the point at which clubs assess how things are shaping up.

Elokobi is pleased with the progress, with his new-look team only three points off top spot after a summer rebuild following relegation from the National League.

“We’ve still got players injured but we’re in a good place,” said Elokobi.

“We’ve been competitive in games - that’s the most important thing - and we’re gelling as a team.

“The players we brought in are gelling with the ones we retained and it’s a good place to be.

“There’s a good feel around the training ground but it’s about making sure we take things game by game and do our homework on whoever we’re playing.”

FA Cup opponents Winchester play a level below the Stones in Southern League Premier South.

They’re 13th in the table but have games in hand following their FA Cup exploits.

The winners of this weekend’s tie will receive £5,625 in prize money and be 90 minutes away from the First Round Proper.

The losers pick up £1,875 while a draw would mean a replay at the Gallagher Stadium on Tuesday (7.45pm).