Maidstone intend to take the Kent Senior Cup seriously - as long as their small squad can cope.

United travel to Bromley in the first round tonight (Tuesday) with manager Jay Saunders keen to progress in a competition he won as a player.

He's set to play new signing Charlie Harris - a former Brighton and Barnsley youngster - along with first-team players who have been in and out of the side.

But there are concerns in defence with Jamie Coyle (calf) and Anthony Acheampong (hamstring) doubtful.

Saunders said: "I’d like us to have a good go at it.

"Centre-half is a worry. Coyley’s struggling with his calf, Ach wasn’t right with his hamstring and Kevin Lokko’s just come back so that’s my biggest concern but we’d like to go quite strong.

"Every year in the lower levels you’ve had the Ryman Cup and things like that and it’s been hard but we’d like to have a good go at it.

"The likes of Tom Murphy, Ben Greenhalgh, Nathan Mavila, probably James Rogers, need some more minutes but we are a really small squad and I won’t put people a risk if it’s going to cost us in the league."

Midfielder Harris is an interesting prospect.

He scored an outstanding goal in a friendly at Snodland last week and Saunders wants a closer look at a player who is rebuilding his career after leaving Barnsley.

Saunders said: "He made contact with me and asked if he could come down.

"He’s looked good in training, played in the Snodland game and scored so we’ve signed him on some league forms and we’ll have a better look at him at Bromley.

"I’ve said to him we’ll make a decision after that but he’s certainly someone who’s got it.

"He was at Brighton, he got bought by Barnsley and it hasn’t quite worked out for him there but he’s certainly got a lot of ability."

Academy forward Jack Richards may have featured at Bromley but has joined Ryman League Faversham on loan for a month.

He made his debut for Ray Turner's side as a substitute against Tooting & Mitcham.

Saunders said: "Jack's been unlucky. There’s been a few games where, if we’d been a bit more comfortable, he’d have got a run-out.

"I just felt that, without a reserve team, it would benefit him to go and get some men’s football. They’ll look after him down there. Ray's great and he'll get some game time."