Folkestone Invicta host Chelmsford City in National League South this weekend in another big game for Jay Saunders’ side

The big games keep coming for Folkestone Invicta as they acclimatise to National League South.

Jay Saunders’ Isthmian Premier champions host big-spending Chelmsford City at Cheriton Road on Saturday (3pm).

The Clarets, under former Notts County and Yeovil boss Mark Cooper, are expected to push hard for promotion this season.

The match follows a thrilling 1-1 derby draw at Maidstone United on Tuesday night, where Invicta led through Adam Lovatt in front of a crowd of more than 2,800.

“That’s another easy one,” joked Saunders. “There are no easy games in this league.

“When the fixtures came out everyone said you’ve got a tough start but what is an easy start in this league? There isn’t one.

“Last year, you could go ‘that’s not a bad start’ but not this year. Every week you’re against full-time teams.

“Walton & Hersham weren’t but you go to Maidstone, who are pretty much full-time, then you play Chelmsford, and everyone knows they’re having a real go to get out of this league, so it’s going to be a real tough game.

“But we’re at home and we’ll enjoy it.”

The fitness of sides in National League South compared to Step 3 football is a clear difference for Saunders.

He expected that as part-time Invicta look to mix it with the full-time clubs.

Saunders said: “We get two nights with the players and we’ve had boys who are working before the Maidstone game and they come in and you’re giving them information.

Invicta boss on derby draw at Maidstone

“You’re probably overloading them with information but you have to do that because we did our analysis on Maidstone on Saturday (at training) and then I go and watch them and a couple of things change, and it’s hard.

“The fitness levels are different in this league but also the