Maidstone are off to France for a pre-season trip that’s about more than just football.

Captain Lee Worgan sees the friendly at French Fourth Division club Arras on Saturday (5pm local time) as the ideal chance for team bonding.

Joe Anderson, Tom Wraight, Johan ter Horst and Josh Hare are new faces while last season’s loanees, Reece Prestedge, Stuart Lewis, Joe Pigott and Delano Sam-Yorke, are settling in after permanent moves.

There’s an overnight stay after the game and Worgan feels the trip is exactly what’s needed as Maidstone prepare for the new National League season.

He said: “It brings everyone that bit closer together and I’m a big fan of doing stuff like that because it’s not always on the pitch that gets you through the season, it’s what happens in the dressing room and the unity you get on these trips only strengthens that.

“We’ve got a lot of new players in the club and you’ve got to spend time with each other.

“You’ve got the travel, you’re having breakfast together, dinner together, so it brings a little bit of unity to the boys and to the club.”

A lively dressing room has been a theme of Jay Saunders’ six seasons in charge and while Stones are more professional than ever in their approach, there’s still room for fun.

Worgan said: “The dressing room has always had that vibe. Everyone steps in and they can be themselves and be loud.

“I think the professionalism’s gone up a lot more in terms of taking care of ourselves, the way we do warm-ups and cool-downs and the vibe in the dressing room has to be a little bit different because of the level we’re playing at.

“But Jay, Nicky Southall and all of the coaching team still bring that element of enjoyment which has always been there since I’ve been here and you need it because you can’t change too much of what’s got you success."

Maidstone visit Sevenoaks Town on Tuesday (7.45pm). They’re the opponents for Oaks’ first game on their new 3G pitch at Greatness Park.