Stand-in skipper Dave Winfield is relishing Ebbsfleet’s promotion challenge as the season reaches its climax.

Danny Kedwell’s broken arm means centre-half Winfield will lead the side in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash at Maidenhead.

Victory would keep Fleet’s slim National League South title hopes alive but any other result means they’re bound for the play-offs.

The pressure is on and Winfield is buzzing.

He said: "You’ve got to relish the challenge. That’s why you play football, because you want to achieve things.

"The group here have the desire and willingness to want to go out there and perform and if you perform well in the majority of games in the season, you’ll achieve what you want to achieve.

"That’s been my attitude throughout my career."

Winfield’s been part of a defence which has kept clean sheets in 18 of their 40 league games so far.

He said: "As defenders, we’re passionate about defending. I think you have to be.

"To get clean sheets and in the order we have done this year, it’s something to be proud of.

"We’ve always had a goal and that is to pick up as many points as possible. That was discussed before the start of the campaign and we’ll continue to pick up good points.

"The points tally is right up there this year and we’re continuing to keep the train moving.

"We come in every week and prepare the same way. It’s no fluke that you pick up these points."