Bivesh Gurung hopes to have played his way into contention for Maidstone’s FA Trophy Quarter-Final tie at home to Barnet tomorrow.

Gurung impressed as a half-time substitute in the Stones’ 2-1 defeat at Wealdstone on Tuesday night, adding midfield bite and energy.

His introduction in a change of system coincided with a much-improved performance after the break, with caretaker boss George Elokobi describing the 21-year-old as “excellent”.

He’d love to play a part in the Trophy as his hometown club bid to reach the last four of the competition for the first time in their history.

He certainly did his chances of featuring no harm with his committed display at Wealdstone.

“That’s my game, really,” said Gurung, who recently returned from a loan spell at Tonbridge.

“I just want to bring energy. Looking from the side in the first half, I felt the game was a bit flat.

“To be fair, I felt a bit annoyed and I just wanted to go on the pitch and smash someone, to be honest.

“Together, as a team, we did well in the second half.

“It wasn’t to be but I’m proud of the boys for how we reacted in the second half.

“That’s the gaffer’s decision, whether I’m involved on Saturday. Hopefully I’ve put something in his mind with my performance.

"I’ll just have to train well for the rest of the week and hope he puts me in.”

Maidstone are in the last eight for the fourth time but have never gone beyond this stage.

With relegation on the cards, the Trophy offers them a chance to salvage something from the season.

But Barnet - fifth in the National League - will be tricky customers at the Gallagher Stadium.

“The fans haven’t had too much to shout about this season, which is absolutely gutting,” said Gurung.

“But hopefully we can give them something to cheer about come the weekend.

“Barnet will be tough. No one gets to the quarters of the Trophy for no reason. They’re in and around the play-offs, so they’re a very strong side.

“We’ll do our homework and be prepared for them.”

Gurung signed an 18-month deal with Maidstone after joining from Margate last season.

He had a little run in the side at the start of this season, scoring his first goal for the club in a 3-1 win at Aldershot over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

However, with ex-boss Hakan Hayrettin turning to other options, only now is he starting to see more action in a Maidstone shirt under Elokobi.

The loan at Tonbridge, working under Jay Saunders, helped sharpen him up and he hopes to prove he’s worthy of a new deal next season.

“The idea of going to Tonbridge was to get some games and fitness,” said Gurung.

“The gaffer, the whole time I was there and even before, he was in good communication with me.

“He said going out on loan wasn’t to put me to one side.

"The idea was to come back and hopefully push me into the team here, which he’s done, so I’m grateful.

"It’s been tough previously but I’m in a fresh mind state. Physically and mentally, I feel ready.

“You can’t look too far ahead because you have one thing on your mind and then things change but I’d love to stay here. It’s my hometown club.

“I’m glad to be amongst it now, in the mix, and hopefully I can get more games under my belt and really show what I’m about.

“Until now, I haven’t really done so or had the opportunities to do so.

“It was a difficult one to take, coming out of the team earlier this season, but managers have their reasons.

“It’s just a case of getting on with it, not sulking, and doing more away from training to try and get back in.”