Folkestone Invicta boss Jay Saunders rates high-flying National League South side Salisbury among best teams in the division ahead of weekend trip to Raymond McEnhill Stadium

Jay Saunders rates Folkestone’s weekend hosts as among the best sides he has seen in the league this season.

Invicta will return to National League South matters at fourth-placed Salisbury this Saturday.

The Wiltshire club came 17th last term but appear a much-improved outfit under boss Brian Dutton. Salisbury also have Italian midfielder Mo Dabre and striker Nathan Odokonyero - who played under Saunders at Tonbridge - in their squad.

“They’re the best side I have seen - them and Truro - I think they’ve been really good from what I’ve watched,” said manager Saunders, whose players are again staying overnight as they aim to bounce back from last weekend’s 4-2 FA Cup derby defeat at Dover.

“They have a couple of my ex-players in Mo Dabre and Nathan Odokonyero. They’re both good players so I look forward to seeing them.

“I get on well with their gaffer and it’s a really tough place to go - but we’re doing things properly.

“We are travelling up [beforehand] and, as always, the club are doing things properly. We need to have a good week’s training now, get everyone right and move on.

“Dover was a cup game and, now, it’s back to the bread and butter.”

Folkestone are on a four-game winless streak, earning one point from matches against Torquay, Horsham and Farnham before they were knocked out of the FA Cup at the second qualifying round stage at Crabble - despite goals from forward Aaron Cosgrave and midfielder Alejandro Machado giving them a half-time lead.

Saunders again admitted they are light on numbers after they failed to fill the substitutes’ bench last weekend.

He said: “We’ve been in every game we have played in.

“We were good in the first half but the facts are, for whatever reason, we’re getting punished at one end