Maidstone boss Jay Saunders will do whatever it takes to stay up - even if it means upsetting players.

Saunders has a big squad to work with and at Dagenham on Easter Monday the likes of Jack Paxman, Tom Wraight and Jack Richards didn't even make the bench.

Previously, Darius Osei and Reece Prestedge have been left out of the squad.

Saunders is prepared to be ruthless in his selection as Maidstone face two big away games in four days against fellow National League strugglers.

They go to bottom side Guiseley on Saturday, with the Yorkshiremen all-but relegated.

That's followed on Tuesday by a rearranged match at Solihull Moors, who are five points adrift of Maidstone in the final relegation spot going into the weekend.

Saunders, whose side should be safe with two wins, said: "I'm at a stage where if I upset people, I upset people. That's part and parcel of it.

"Everyone should be upset who isn't involved but we've got to look at it and pick the squad we think for that day.

"Darius has been out in the cold since he got injured and I thought he came on at Dagenham and looked sharp.

"He's given me thoughts in my head and his attitude's been first class.

"That's what I want from them and if they do that, they'll get a chance.

"Reece Prestedge, he's been off the scene but when you're going to Guiseley and places like that, he comes back into the equation."

The pressure's back on Maidstone after three straight defeats.

And it won't be easy at Guiseley, who ended Hartlepool's five-match unbeaten run over Easter.

Saunders said: "It becomes a big game. There's a lot of pressure on it, isn't there?

"But nothing changes, we still need two wins out of our remaining games, so it's still in our hands.

"We've just got to worry about ourselves and keep trying to do what we do."

Will De Havilland (concussion) is sidelined but Andre Coker (thigh) is close to a return.

The big conundrum is finding the right combination up front, with on-loan Ross Lafayette the only man scoring for Maidstone.

Saunders said: "Ever since Zavon Hines and Joe Pigott left, we've lacked that quality in the final third.

"For me, Pigott was the best centre-forward in the league and a lot of managers have said the same to me.

"We've tried different things, different formations, different pairings, but the boys who go out on the pitch have got to do it.

"As a forward, if you're not scoring goals, you're never the most confident.

"It's not easy to solve. If it was then forwards wouldn't be paid what they're paid."