Best protection product for footwell?

I've just bought a new heavy duty matting system from Wight Off Road and am ready to fit it to my Defender 90. I wonder if anyone has any tips about what product I should put on the metal of the footwell underneath the new matting system. I was planning on stripping everything out, painting it and then placing the matting on top. Should I be using another product on top afterwards for further protection?- I know water will collect under the matting. I have some Dinitrol spare but don't fancy using this as it leaves a permanent 'sticky' surface. Any tips much appreciated. Thanks.

I accidentally spilt 5 lts of ep90 into my passenger footwell.
No more rust for a while but does smell a touch lol

Hairball said:

I accidentally spilt 5 lts of ep90 into my passenger footwell.
No more rust for a while but does smell a touch lol

Click to expand...

Nothing is so good as the smell of EP90 in the morning!

OP, paint works fine for me!

I have never suffered rust to the footwell but then again, I have never fitted any kind of matting or carpet either.
Must be a moral in there somewhere?