AS Eastleigh make a welcome return to home territory this week, manager Richard Hill is at a loss to understand why the Spitfires have had to hit the road for the last three Saturdays running.

Hill, who leads his side into Silverlake action against Maidstone United tomorrow (Tuesday, 7.45pm) and AFC Fylde on Saturday (3pm), reckons the lop-sided fixture list has asked too much of players and fans alike.

“I didn’t realise until my son pointed it out to me that we’ve been away for the last three Saturdays. How’s that fair?" he asked.

“I’m speaking up for the fans as well as the team here. We get good support away and they’ve had to travel to Leyton Orient, Ebbsfleet and Guiseley three Saturdays on the spin. That’s a lot of money.

“I’d be saying the same thing, incidentally, if it had been three home games.

“Whatever happened to having one away, one at home?”

Eastleigh have drawn all three of those road trips and also shared the points in a 0-0 bank holiday stalemate with ten-man Aldershot Town.

It leaves them a steady 12th in the Vanarama National League, five points off leaders Dover, knowing that two positive results at the Silverlake could hoist them up amongst it.

“It’s nice to have a couple of home games, but it doesn’t mean teams are going to just roll over and let Eastleigh win,” warned Hill.

“We weren’t good enough with the ball at Guiseley (0-0) and we need to try and find something from somewhere.”

Wideman Sam Wood is struggling with two dead legs and injured quartet Paul McCallum, Gavin Hoyte, Ben Williamson and skipper Sam Togwell have scant chance of facing a Maidstone side who are locked with the Spitfires on 12 points.

McCallum’s foot problem is taking time to heal and Hill rued: “We brought him to the club to score goals and I genuinely think he could - but not all the time he’s walking round in a plastic boot."

Maidstone’s squad includes former Eastleigh favourite Jai Reason.