Maidstone can learn from Sutton’s approach to the National League, according to manager Jay Saunders.

The sides were promoted together two years ago but while the Stones are trying to establish themselves, the U’s are already fighting for the title.

Paul Doswell’s men are having a brilliant season, second behind Macclesfield and well on course for at least a play-off spot.

Maidstone, on the other hand, are 18th after ending their four-month wait for a win against Torquay last weekend.

Saunders said: “What Dos has done well is he’s had a core of players over the last few years that he’s kept with and he’s built on that and brought in some real quality around it.

“It’s a model we need to look at and try and aim towards because I think it’s something going forward, and once we’re safe in this league, that we need.

“We need to get a bit of stability rather than having 14-15 players changing all the time which is what we’ve had for the last few years.

“We’ve got to maybe look at tying people down a little bit longer so we get that stability but you’ve got to give Sutton full credit, they’ve been excellent and they’re a really good side and they’re genuine title contenders.”

Saunders was delighted with the win over Torquay - Maidstone’s first in 18 games - but warns they aren’t safe yet.

They do, though, have a seven-point cushion over the bottom four and take confidence into the Sutton game after ending their barren spell.

Saunders said: “It’s been a real tough spell and I don’t want to get too excited because we’ve won one game as the job’s not done yet.

“You learn more about yourself when you’re losing games, you learn a lot more than when you’re winning games.

“I’ve asked a lot of questions and thought about a lot of different things, what I should do and stuff but it was nice to get that win.

“All I could think before the game was if we lost it would have been the end of the world, pretty much, and then trying to plan for the next one would have been hard, whereas now there’ll be a good little buzz around the place.”

Captain Stuart Lewis returns from suspension but Seth Twumasi has one more game to serve.

Striker Ross Lafayette has extended his loan spell from Sutton until the end of the season but can’t play against his parent club.

Fellow loanee, defender Dean Beckwith, has returned to the U’s.

The home game against Macclesfield, postponed last week with Stones players stuck on the M25, will now be played on Wednesday.