by Alex Hoad

Maidstone are preparing to get back to business in Ryman League Premier Division but joint-boss Lloyd Hume has warned that Saturday's game at Ashford Town (Middlesex) will be tough.

The Stones will be without two of their most experienced and influential players in Roland Edge and Jay Saunders (pictured) as they look to end a run of only one goal in four away games.

Edge is likely to be out for a couple of weeks after picking up a calf strain in Tuesday’s FA Trophy first qualifying round win over Waltham Forest, while Saunders serves a one-match ban.

Hume said: "We are missing a few on Saturday but we will particularly miss those two because they are very important in the middle for us.

"We have got a small squad as everyone knows but we have some very good squad players like Steve Elliott, Keelan Mooney and Ashley Dann, who can come in and get a chance."

Ashford lie just below the Stones in midtable but have won three league games on the bounce.