Manager Hakan Hayrettin knows exactly what’s required if Maidstone are to continue their improved derby form at Tonbridge.

The Stones have struggled against Kent clubs in recent years but put that to bed with wins over National South promotion rivals Ebbsfleet and Dartford in the past few weeks.

Tonbridge are at the opposite end of the table going into the all-ticket Boxing Day derby at Longmead (12.30pm) but Hayrettin has heard nothing but good things about them.

He had scouts at their FA Trophy win over National League Torquay last weekend - illness preventing him from attending in person - and is aware of the threats posed by Steve McKimm’s men.

“They’re a decent side,” said Hayrettin, whose team are three points behind leaders Ebbsfleet, in fifth spot.

“One of our scouts said they’re one of the best sides he’s seen.

“It’s a local derby and we’ve got to be ready.

“Like always, we’ve got to be stronger and fitter and work harder than the other team, so nothing changes from my point of view.

“The way I play, we’ve got to work hard, haven’t we?

“If we’re going to move the ball quicker than everyone else, be first to the ball and be sharper than the opposition, we have to work hard.

“If we can get the majority of players doing that more often than not, you’ve got a better chance of winning games.

“The boys have bought into that, that’s the way I play and I’m not going to change.

“I know it won’t be an easy game, it’ll be a tough game and we won’t take anybody lightly.

“They’ve got good players and in a local derby you’ve got to roll up your sleeves and fight to get anything.

“We have to go there and be on it - simple as that - otherwise we’ll come unstuck.

“This is a vital period of the season for us.”

There’s the added twist of potentially facing two players who left the Gallagher Stadium last summer.

Ibrahim Olutade scored the winner against Torquay while Jake Embery marked his first Angels start at Slough with a goal.

“They’ve got a couple of ex-players who will want to prove something,” said Hayrettin.

“Jake decided to move on after we invited him back to prove his fitness after a bad injury and Olutade was one I had to make a decision on.

“It’s not that I don’t think he’s a good player but I decided to pursue someone else.”

The Boxing Day derby is the first part of a Christmas and New Year double header, with the return at Maidstone on January 2.

In between, the Stones meet Welling at the Gallagher on Tuesday.

Like Tonbridge, the Wings are down the wrong of the end of the table but they’ve improved considerably under Peter Taylor and represent another stern test.

“Let me explain something, and I need to put this out there, the minute supporters start writing teams off because of where they are in the table, that’s very dangerous in my mind.

“They’re local derbies, the teams in Kent are all decent and we have to be focused and ready.

“I played with Peter when I was on loan at Dagenham, we speak quite frequently and I’ve got a lot of respect for him.

“He has a different way of playing to me, it’ll be two contrasting styles, and my job is to make sure my team is up for all these games.”