Maidstone fans can help their team take another step towards the title by recreating the spirit of Stevenage in their biggest league game of the season.

United host Margate in front of a sell-out crowd of 2,226 at the Gallagher Stadium on Saturday, knowing victory would all-but-end their Kent rivals’ hopes of winning the Ryman League Premier Division.

And boss Jay Saunders wants fans to be as loud as they were the night Stones knocked League 2 Stevenage out of the FA Cup.

He said: “It’s always nice when you know you’re going to be playing in front of a sell-out crowd. If the fans get behind us, like they did in the cup, it would lift the team massively.

“Margate have players who’ve played in the Football League who are used to big crowds but it’s a bit different at the Gallagher, where the fans are right on top of you.”

Maidstone, seven points clear of second-placed Hendon, have the chance to open up a 13-point lead over third-placed Margate.

Gate will have three games in hand after Maidstone play at Grays on Monday night (7.45pm) but can hardly afford to lose at the Gallagher.

Saunders, who has a full-strength squad to choose from, said: “There’s more pressure on Margate in that they know they’ve got to come and win. It would be mentally hard for them to come back and win the league if we beat them."