Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell on the challenge of facing Ebbsfleet United in the FA Trophy and moves for strikers Rushaar Samuel-Smikle and Chaynie Burgin

Manager Ryan Maxwell wants Sittingbourne to embrace the challenge of going to old rivals Ebbsfleet in the FA Trophy.

The sides meet in a second-round tie at Stonebridge Road this Saturday (3pm), with Bourne the underdogs against their full-time hosts.

It’s not unfamiliar territory for Maxwell’s men, who have beaten eight higher-league teams in the Trophy over the past two seasons.

Their biggest scalp was that of National League Southend as Sittingbourne won 1-0 at Roots Hall to reach last season’s quarter-finals.

Two divisions separate Ebbsfleet and Sittingbourne, with Josh Wright’s side fighting for promotion in National League South, and the Brickies looking to do likewise in Isthmian South East.

“It’s a massive game, isn’t it?” said Maxwell.

“We’re hoping there’ll be a bumper crowd.

“We want to enjoy the game but we also want to win it.

“It’s going to be a really, really difficult task.

“They’re a full-time team and they have some very good players, plus it’s at their home ground.

“We know we’re up against it there but it’s a challenge, I love a challenge and the players love a challenge.

“We’ve risen to many a challenge in my time as manager here.

“This is another really difficult one but if you don’t run towards these challenges with a head-on attitude, then you will get beat.

“We’ll be going as aggressive and as positive as we ever have been in the past.”

Maxwell had a brief spell at Ebbsfleet - then called Gravesend & Northfleet - in his playing days.

It didn’t go as planned, although he enjoyed his time under Liam Daish, the former Republic of Ireland international, who was in charge at Stonebridge Road.

“I had a little bit of time there,” said Northern Irishman Maxwell.

“I’d come back down from, I believe it was