Manager Andy Hessenthaler has challenged his in-form Gillingham team to put in a performance at Wycombe on Monday that will prove they belong in the promotion race.

The Gills boss, pictured, takes his team, who have won their last five games, to a Wycombe side who sit third in League 2.

Gillingham’s winning streak has seen them sneak into the play-off positions for the first time this season and they head back to the ground where they suffered relegation under Mark Stimson after a 3-0 defeat at Adams Park in May.

“As far as I am concerned this is a new us,” said Hessenthaler. “We have to go and show people that we are contenders because at the moment we’ve put ourselves in a position at nearly the halfway stage of where we want to be.

"It’s nice to be in the play-off positions but we just take every game at a time.

“Wycombe is another challenge for us and one that is going to be tough. They’ve beaten us already this season when we were low on confidence, but we don’t go there with any fear, certainly not now, with the run we’re on.

“Our challenge now is can we make it six? I believe we can.”

Hessenthaler may have to reluctantly make some changes to his winning side as they face a second match inside three days.

Fighting off illness in recent games have been Matt Lawrence and Adebayo Akinfenwa, and both could struggle to be fit.

How do you think Gillingham will fare in the second half of the season? Can they stay in the play-off spots or is automatic promotion possible? Have your say in our comments section below.